^^a 
.^1^ 


o>^.^. 


V 


.li^ 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


f/ 


s 


^^, 


i  1.0 


I.I 


i:.25 


u  HA 


2.5 
2.2 

2.0 


Hiolographic 

Sciences 
Craporation 


23  WIST  MAIN  STRHT 

WnSTn,N.Y.  MSM 

(716)«7a-4S03 


'^ 


^%<if 


A. 


F^^ 


■<^ 


CIHM/ICMH 


Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  IMicroreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  da  microraproductiona  hiatoriquaa 


TMhfileal  •nd  MbHoflrapMe  NotM/NotM  t«ehnk|iiM  •!  MMiegraphiquM 


TtM  Inttitut*  hM  attMnptml  to  obtain  tho  bott 
original  eofiy  avaNaMa  for  fHmlng.  Faaturaa  of  thia 
copy  wMeh  may  ba  MbHoflrapMaaNy  unlqua. 
wMeh  may  altar  any  of  tha  Imagaa  toi  tha 
raproduction,  or  wMch  may  algnlfleantly  ehanga 
tha  uaual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  ehaekad  balow. 


D 


D 


D 
D 


D 


D 


Colourad  eovara/ 
Couvartura  da  coulaur 


I — I   Covart  damagad/ 


Couvartura  andommag4a 

Covart  rattorad  and/or  iaminatad/ 
Couvartura  raataurAa  at/ou  palllculia 


□  Covar  titia  miaaing/ 
La 


titra  da  couvartura  manqua 

iourad  m^^a/ 
Cartaa  giographiquat  an  coulaur 

Colourad  inic  (i.a.  othar  than  biua 

Encra  da  coulaur  (i.a.  autra  qua  biaua  ou  noira) 


nn   Colourad  m^^a/ 

I — I   Colourad  inic  (i.a.  othar  than  biua  or  blaolc)/ 


I     I   Colourad  plataa  and/or  iiluatrationa/ 


Planchaa  at/ou  iiluatrationa  an  coulaur 

Bound  with  othar  matariai/ 
RaM  avac  d'autraa  documanta 

Tight  binding  may  cauaa  ahadowa  or  diatortion 
along  intarior  margin/ 

La  r«  liura  aarr^a  paut  cauaar  da  i'ombra  ou  da  la 
diatortion  la  long  da  ia  marga  intAriaura 

Blank  iaavaa  addad  during  raatoration  may 
appaar  within  tha  taxt.  Whanavar  poaaibla.  thaaa 
hava  baan  omittad  from  filming/ 
II  aa  paut  qua  cartainaa  pagas  blanchaa  ajoutiaa 
lora  d'una  raatauration  apparaiaaant  dana  la  taxta. 
maia.  ioraqua  caia    tait  poaaibla.  caa  pagaa  n'ont 
paa  it*  filmiaa. 

Additional  commanta:/ 
Commantairaa  aupplimantairaa: 


L'lnatHut  a  microfilm*  la  maWaur  axamplaira 
qu1l  lul  a  MA  poaaibla  da  aa  proeurar.  Laa  dAtaUa 
da  eat  axamplaira  qui  aont  paut-Atra  unlquaa  du 
polm  da  vua  MMIographlqua,  qui  pauvant  modifiar 
una  imaga  raproduKa.  ou  qui  pauvant  axigar  una 
modification  dana  la  mithoda  normala  da  filmaga 
aont  indiquia  ci-daaaoua. 


D 


D 


D 
D 


Colourad  pagaa/ 
Pagaa  da  coulaur 


□  Pagaa  damagad/ 
Pagaa  andommagiaa 

□   Pagaa  raatorad  and/or  Iaminatad/ 
Pagaa  raatauriaa  at/ou  paiiicuiiaa 


Pagaa  diacolourad.  atainad  or  foxad/ 


Pagaa  dicoloriaa,  tachatiaa  ou  piquiaa 

Pagaa  datachad/ 
Pagaa  ditachiaa 


Showthrough/ 
Tranaparanca 


□   Quality  of  print  variaa/ 
Quality  inigaia  da  I'impraaaion 

|~n   Inciudaa  auppiamantary  material/ 


Comprand  du  matiriai  aupplimantaira 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seuie  Mition  diaponibie 

Pagaa  wholly  or  partially  obacurad  by  errata 
alipa,  tiaauaa.  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
enaure  tha  beat  poaaibla  image/ 
Lea  pagaa  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obacurciaa  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  una  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  M  fiimiea  A  nouveau  de  fapon  A 
obtenir  ia  meilieure  image  poaaible. 


h 
d 

e 
b 
ri 
ri 
n 


Thia  item  ia  filmed  at  th^  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  eat  film*  au  taux  de  rMuction  indiqu*  ci-deaaoua. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

28X 

30X 

y 

12X 

16X 

aox 

24X 

28X 

32X 

Th«  copy  filfiMd  h§n  has  bMn  raproduccd  thanks 
to  tlw  9«fMrMlty  of: 

MaflOdnm  LHwanf 
CwMiM  Univsnlty 

Tho  imagM  oppooring  horo  aro  tha  boat  quality 
potaibia  conaMaring  tha  condition  and  iaglbility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  kaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spacif ieations. 


L'axamplaira  fNm4  f ut  raprodult  griea  A  la 
g4n4roait*  da: 


UacMy 


Laa  imagaa  auivantaa  ont  Mi  raproduitaa  avae  la 
plua  grand  aoin.  eompta  tanu  da  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattat4  da  l'axamplaira  filmA.  at  an 
conformiti  avac  laa  conditions  du  contrat  da 
fiimaga. 


Original  copiaa  in  printad  papar  covers  ara  filmad 
beginning  with  tlia  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  last  paga  with  a  printad  or  illustratad  impraa- 
sion,  or  tlia  iMck  covar  whan  appropriate.  All 
othar  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illuatrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  e  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  exempiairas  origlnaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  eet  ImprimAe  sent  filmte  en  commen^ant 
par  la  premier  plot  et  en  terminent  soit  par  la 
dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  dlUustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  la  cas.  Tous  lea  autras  axempieires 
origlnaux  soAt  fiimAe  en  comment ent  per  la 
pramlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impreasion  ou  dlHustration  et  en  terminent  par 
la  darnlAre  pege  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  -^  (meening  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboies  sulvants  apparattra  sur  la 
darnlAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  seton  le 
cas:  la  symbols  — »>  signifie  "A  SUiVRE".  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  ns 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  piancties,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
fiimAs  A  des  taux  de  rAduction  diff Arents. 
Lorsqus  ie  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichA,  11  est  f limA  A  pertir 
de  I'angie  supArleur  geuche,  de  geuclie  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  has,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'imeges  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  sulvants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

''J 


/, 


BI06BAPHICAL  NOTICES 


or 


DISTINGUISHED    MEN 

/^ 

NEW  ENGLANI^. 

Statesmen,  Patriots,  Fhysieiaas,  Lawyers, 
Clergymen,  and  Mechanics. 


BT  AXiDSir  BBADFOBD,   XiZi.  B. 

Membar  of  the  Matiachuietti  Hiitorical  Suciety  ;  Correnpondin^  Member  of 

American  Hiiitorical  Society  ;  of  Hiit.  Soc.  of  New  York,  Pena., 

and  Georgia  ^  and  of  Nat.  Int.  of  Science,-  at  VVaibiof  ton. 


9^^^*^t^*^^'**^^^*^t^*0^^^i*^^>^^r^r^f^F*^^r^ 


BOSTON: 

PUBLISHED  ACCORDING  TO  ACT  OF  CONORE8S, 
BT  S.  O.  SIMPKINS. 

i.  G.  Torrey,  printer. 


ADVERTISEMENT. 

It  is  a  natural  and  laudable  desire  to  know  the 
principles,  character  and  services  of  our  ancestors. 
Curiosity  may  induce  us   to  read  the    history    of 
other  countries,  and  to  learn  the  customs,  opinions 
and  character  of  the  inhabitants  ;  and  some  useful 
information  may  be  thus  acquired ;  affording  infor- 
mation and  admonitions,  which  merit  attention  for 
the  conduct  of  life.     But  a  knowledge  of  the  princi- 
ples and  character  of  our  ancesters,  by  whose  insti- 
tutions, literary,  political,  and  religious,  the  present 
and  coming  generations  are,  in  a  great  measure,  af- 
fected,  or   to  be  affected,   is   far  more  important. 
Changes  in   society,  with  a  view  to  improvement, 
may  be  expected ;  for  mankind  do  not  long  pause  at 
the  point  already  reached.     The  great  aim  of  human 
effort  is  progress — and  yet  a  reference  to  the  con- 
dition and  state   of  former   generations  may  fur- 
nish lessons  for  good,  to  a  subsequent  one.     In  the 
present  volume,  the  desire  has  been  to  give  the  char- 
acter and  state  the  opinions  and  services  of  the  pat- 
riots of  the  Revolution,  as  well  as  of  the  original 
founders  of  New  England  ;  some  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished Clergymen  in  every  period  of  its  history : 
and  of  men  in  more    private    life,  who,   by  their 
writings  or  inventions,   have    been  useful  in  the 
Commonwealth. 


\ 


^  n 


the 
tors, 
of 
ions 
jeful 
ifor- 
ti  for 
•inci- 
insti- 
esent 
e,  af- 
rtant. 
nent, 
ise  at 
iman 
con- 
fur- 
1  the 
har- 
pat- 
ginal 


BIOGRAPHICAL  NOTICES. 


CHAPTER    I. 


ABBOT,  Rev.  ABIEL  D.  D.  was  of  a  very  re- 
spectable family  of  Andover;  which  in  its  different 
branches,  has  furnished  many  useful  and  learned 
instructors  of  youth,  and  clergymen,  in  Massachu- 
setts and  New  Hampshire.  While  at  the  University, 
Mr.  Abbot  had  the  reputation  of  a  diligent  student 
and  a  good  scholar.  He  early  chose  to  enter  the 
cletical  profession ;  and  in  less  than  three  years 
after  he  left  the  University,  he  was  ordained  as  the 
pastor  of  the  first  Congregational  Church  and  Society 
in  Haverhill,  in  Massachusetts.  He  was  a  popular 
and  useful  preacher.  His  great  aim  was  to  instruct 
and  to  impress  his  hearers;  and  yet  his  sermons 
were  well  studied.  His  compositions  were  correct, 
and  sometimes  elegant  and  ornamented.  His  style 
was  such  as  to  please  both  the  man  of  letters  and 
the  common  class  of  people.  He  was  evangelical, 
but  not  technical  or  scolastic.  He  generaily^was 
reckoned  among  Unitarians;  but  did  not  adopt  all 
their  peculiar  opinions.  He  was  candid  and  concil- 
iating, but  could  not  justly  be  called  a  trimmer.  His 
amiable  temper  and  bland  manners  recommended 
him  to  all  classes  of  persons ;  and  the  benevolence  of 


ABIEL  ABBOT — HULL   ABBOT. 


his  heart  was  evident  to  all  who  often  associated  with 
him.  After  being  several  years  at  Haverhill,  he  be- 
came pastor  of  the  first  Clinrch  and  iSociety  in  Bev- 
erly, wliere  he  remained  sometime,  till  he  fell  a  victim 
to  disease  in  1729,  at  the  age  of  fifty-seven.  Several 
of  his  occasional  sermons  were  pnblished  ;  and  are 
unsurpassed  by  very  few  similar  productions  of  his 
clerical  brethren.  Home  of  them  were  particularly 
designed  for  seamen.  There  is  nothing  of  a  contro- 
versial spirit  discovered  in  them.  It  was  his  wish  to 
avoid  controversy  in  addressing  a  common  audience, 
which  needed  plain  and  practical  preaching,  "  rather 
than  vain  disputations."  Mr.  Abbot  was  anxious  to 
see  more  union  among  Christian  ministers,  and  all 
other  Christian  professors  :  and  he  labored  much  in 
his  day,  by  his  candid  and  accommodating  spirit  to 
effect  it;  but  with  little  success,  'i'here  are  always 
some  men  in  the  Christian  church  who  prefer  the 
Shibboleth  of  party  to  the  spirit  of  the  gospel.  Dr. 
Abbot's  letters  from  Cuba  were  published,  and 
several  occasional  discourses,  and  were  well  received. 

ABBOT,  Rev.  ARIEL  D.  D.  a  graduate  of 
Harvard  College  in  1787,  and  now  the  pastor  of  a 
Congregational  (church  in  Peterborough,  New  Hamp- 
shire, at  the  age  of  seventy-five,  is  a  relation  of  the 
afore-named ;  a  learned  theologian  and  of  a  most 
Christian  temper  and  character.  And  Benjamin 
Abbot,  L  L.  D.  for  fifty  years  the  able  and  popu- 
lar principal  of  Phillips's  Academy,  at  Exeter,  Mew 
Hampshire,  is  a  brother :  highly  respectable,  not 
only  as  a  scholar,  but  as  a  member  of  society,  a 
citizen  and  a  Christian.  He  received  his  degree  in 
Harvard  College  in  1788.     But  is  still  living. 

ABBOT,  Rev.  HULL  received  his  public  educa- 
tion in  Harvard  College  with  the  class  of  1720 ;  and 
in  1724  was  ordained  over  the  Church  in  Charles- 


HULL  ABBOT. 


le  in 


iica- 

]and 

rles- 


i 


town.    He  remained  in  the  pastoral  office  in  that 
town  for  fifty  years,  and  until  his  decease,  in  1774, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-two.     Mr.  Abbot  had  the  repu- 
tation of  an  nble  theologian,  and  of  an  affectionate 
and  faithful  pastor.     At  that  period,  ns  well  as  since, 
the  clergy  in  New  England  were  well  educated  and 
exemplary  :  no  one  has  enjoyed  a  high  reputation  in 
the  ministerial  office,  as  he  did,  who  was  not  a  good 
scholar  and  a  faithful,  devoted  pastor.     His  whole 
time  was  given  to  the  duties  of  his  sacred  profession. 
Learning  and  piety  were  alike  indispensable  in  the 
clergy,  "  who  were  set  for  the  defence  of  the  gospel ;  " 
who  were  required  "  to  be  able  to  teach  others,  and 
to  convince   gainsaycrs."      The   voluntary  under- 
taking of  the  office  of  a  Christian  teacher  was  a  proof 
that  he  who  assumed   it  felt  the  importance  of  re- 
ligion.   And  as  the  fathers  in  the  Church  had  a  deep 
conviction  of  the  necessity  of  learning  in  those  of 
the  clerical  character,  they  did  not  "  lay  hands  "  on 
the  illiterate  or  immoral.     From  the  early  seitlehient 
of  New  England  to  the  present  time  even,  the  con- 
gregational ministers  have  been  as  good  scholars  and 
as  able  theologians  as  the  clergy  in  England,  wheth- 
er Dissenters  or  of  the  established  Episcopal  clMtrch. 
It  has   sometimes   been   supposed  that  the  ::crgy 
were  unduly  revered,  and  that  their  influence    v^as 
too  great,  in  former  generations.     In  some  instances, 
no  doubt,  they   have  assumed  and  exercised   more 
authority   than  reason  or  scripture    would  justify. 
Like  other  men,  they  are  fond  of  power  ;  and  in  some 
ages  and  countries  they  have  "  lorded  it  over  God's 
heritage."     And  where  the  people  are  very  ignorant 
they  will  bow  to  the  dictation  of  their  priests,  how- 
ever unjust  or  unreasonable  it  may  be.     But  in  New 
England,  the  clergy  have  always  been  respected  ac- 
cording to  their  learning,  and  their  devotion  to  the 
duties  of  their  profession.    More  than  in  most  other 
countries,   the  laity  here  think  for  themselves  in 

2* 


6 


JACOB   ABBOT — JOHN  B.  ABBOT. 


religious  as  well  as  political  affairs.  Men  of  leamingi 
of  every  profession,  in  a  community  should  have 
'influence;  but  if  they  assume  more  than  their 
superior  knowledge  or  their  experience  my  justly 
claim  for  them,  there  can  be  no  fear  that  the  people 
will  submit. 

ABBOT,  Rev.  JACOB  was  of  the  Andover  fam- 
ily, and  received  his  educa'tion  in  Harvard  College 
with  the  class  of  1792.  He  was  settled  in  1795 
over  the  church  and  society  in  Hampton  Falls,  in  the 
State  of  New  Hampshire,  as  successor  of  Dr.  Lang- 
don,  who  was  sonielimn  president  of  Harvard  Uni- 
versity. Mr.  Abbot  had  the  character  of  an  able 
and  faithful  minister  of  the  gospel ;  than  which 
there  is  none  more  important  or  truly  honorable 
among  men ;  as  by  the  influence  of  divine  truths 
which  they  teach,  they  "  show  unto  men  the  way  of 
eternal  life."  He  possessed  much  of  the  spirit  of 
the  early  clergy  in  New  England ;  "  a  spirit  of 
lovfe,  of  power  and  of  a  sound  mind."  In  his  theo- 
logical inquiries  and  researches,  he  exercised  a  proper 
degree  of  independence  ;  at  the  same  time,  he  made 
the  doctrines  of  Christ  and  of  his  inspired  apostles 
the  standard  and  rule  of  faith ;  and  yielded  not  to 
new  systems  of  speculative  and  visionary  men,  who 
assume  to  be  equally  wise  in  divine  and  spiritual 
things  as  was  Jesus  of  Nazareth ;  "  whom  God 
sanctified  and  sent  into  the  world  "  to  teach  his  holy 
will ;  and  who  prefer  to  follow  their  own  imaginations 
rather  than  the  written  word  of  Jehovah.  Mr. 
Abbot  died  in  1833,  at  the  age  of  sixty-four.  His 
death  was  sudden,  being  drowned  in  attempting  to 
cross  a  pond  at  Windham  in  New  Hampshire,  where 
he  resided  the  latter  part  of  his  life. 

ABBOT,   Rev.  JOHN    EMERY    was  a  son  of 
Benjamin  Abbot,  the  precepter  of  Phillips's  Academy 


JOHN  LOVUOT  ABBOT.  7 

in  Exeter,  New  Hamsphire.  He  received  his  aca- 
demical  education  in  that  seminary ;  and  entering 
Bowdoin  College  he  was  there  graduated  in  1810. 
He  ranked  among  the  best  classical  scholars  then  in 
the  college.  Soon  after  taking  his  degree,  he  enter- 
ed on  the  regular  study  of  divinity,  and  was  ordain- 
ed over  a  congregational  church  and  society  in 
Salem,  which  hud  been  under  the  pastoral  care  and 
instruction  of  Rev.  Thomas  Barnard,  I).  L).  No  one 
of  his  age  and  time  was  more  esteemed  than  Mr. 
Abbot,  either  for  literary  acquirements  or  an  amiable 
disposition.  He  was  liberal  in  his  views  on  specu- 
lative points  of  theology  ;  and  exercised  great  can- 
dour towards  those  who  differed  from  him  in  some 
respects  in  their  religious  views.  With  him,  Chris- 
tianity was  not  a  system  of  speculation,  nor  of  mere 
historical  faith ;  but  he  considered  it  a  divine  re- 
ligion ;  designed  and  calculated  to  give  spiriti.al  life 
to  wordly  and  sensual  men  ;  and  lie  aimed  to  make 
it  the  means  of  imparting  such  a  blessing  to  his 
hearers.  Mr.  Abbot  died  of  a  pulmonary  complaint, 
in  1818,  a  short  time  after  he  was  settled  in  the  min- 
istxy;  greatly  lamented  by  his  particular  friends, 
and   by  the  whole  Christian  community. 

ABBOT,  Rev.  JOHN  LOVEJOY  was  a  relation 
of  the  former,  and  received  his  public  education  in 
Harvard  College,  with  the  class  of  1805.  He  resided 
some  time  at  the  University  after  he  had  his  drgree; 
and  held  the  office  of  librarian  immediately  after  S. 
C.  Thacher.  This  was  a  situation  very  favorable 
to  a  student  in  theology  ;  and  Mr.  Abbot  diligently 
improved  it.  In  1814,  he  was  ordained  the  pastor 
of  the  first  church  and  society  in  Boston,^ under  very 
auspicious  circumstances.  But  the  fair  promises  of 
his  usefulness  and  distinction,  as  a  divine,  which  his 
reputation  then  gave,  were  destined  not  to  be  ful- 
filled.    The  feeble  state  of  his  health  made  it  proper 


8 


BTRPHIN  ABBOT. 


for  him  to  suspend  his  ministerial  labors,  and  to 
travel.  Rut  this  proved  inetfectual ;  he  sunk  under 
a  fatal  disease  within  two  y«'ars  of  his  ordination. 
Had  his  life  and  health  been  continued,  he  vould 
probably  have  been  as  useful  and  as  distinguished 
as  an  Kmerson,  a  Clarke,  a  Chauiicy,  a  Foxcroft,  or 
a  Wilson  ;  who  had  been  bright  lightN  in  that  golden 
candlestick.  They  were  all  for  a  pure  and  scrips 
tural  form  of  worship  and  church  government. 
"  Above  all  other  blessings  niid  privileges,  which  God 
has  granted  us,"  said  one  of  them,  "  is  that  of  plant- 
ing his  own  name  and  precious  ordinances  among 
us;  and  our  desire  is  to  have  all  his  own  institu- 
tions, and  no  more  than  his  own;  and  these,  in  their, 
native  simplicity,  without  any  human  dressings:  hav- 
ing liberty  to  enjoy  all  which  God  has  commanded, 
and  yet  urged  to  nothing  more  than  he  commands  in 
his  holy  word." 

ABBOT,  STEPHEN  was  an  officer  in  the  Ameri- 
can army  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution ;  and  was 
much  esteemed,  as  a  soldier  and  a  man.  After  the 
war,  he  resided  in  N.  H.,  and  reached  an  advanced 
age,  as  did  a  large  portion  of  that  patriotic  band. 
He  and  his  noble-minded  company  in  arms,  in  that 
arduous  struggle  for  civil  liberty,  are  justly  entitled 
to  the  respect  and  gratitude  of  the  present  genera- 
tion. But  for  their  disinterested  services  and  great 
personal  sacrifices,  we  should  now  be  in  a  most  hu- 
miliating state  of  degredation,  and  of  subjection  to  a 
foreign  government,  where  the  rulers  and  people  feel 
no  interest  in  our  welfare  or  prosperity.  The  patriot 
army  of  the  United  States  in  1775,  raised  solely  for 
the  defence  of  national  rights,  and  privileges  and  lib- 
erties long  enjoyed,  was  composed  of  very  different 
characters  from  those  who  make  up  an  army  of  mer- 
cenaries whose  trade  and  profession  is  war.  They 
should  not  be  considered  rebels  ;  for  they  contended 


■AMUIL   ABBOT. 


not  for  new  and  greater  powers  than  their  fathers 
had  possessed.  It  was  opposition,  not  to  convStiin- 
tionai  law  or  legiliiuute  authority  ;  hut  to  arhitrary 
doctrines  and  oppressive  measures  which  mu^it  have 
proved  fatal  to  all  political  lihorty  in  the  country. 
Our  ancestors  liad  purchased  frei'doin  at  too  groat  a 
price  to  have  it  timidly  yielded  to  any  earthly  power 
whatever.  The  patriots  of  1775,  who  resisted  the 
attempts  of  the  British  ministry  to  enforce  their  op- 
pressive measures  by  the  military  arm,  and  who  re- 
sorted to  force  when  attacked,  to  defend  the  province 
from  further  acts  of  tyranny,  and  thus  tosave  it  from 
enduring  and  hopeless  servitude — these  men 
whether  in  the  cabinet  or  in  the  field — acted  entirely 
on  the  defensive.  They  remonstrated  for  several 
years ;  and  did  not  take  up  arms  for  resistance  until 
it  was  impossible  to  retain  tlioir  ancient  rights  and 
liberties,  without  such  a  sad  alternative.  'I'hcy  arc 
not  then  to  be  considered  rebels,  but  reasonable  men, 
resolved  on  constitutional  liberty,  when  the  parent 
government  attempted  to  enslave  them.  They 
claimed  no  new  power;  they  only  stood  for  their 
rights. 

ABBOT,  SAMUEL  Esq.  of  Andover,  was  one  of 
the  very  liberal  founders  of  the  Theological  Institu- 
tion in  that  town,  established  in  1807.  Mr.  Abbot 
gave  a  sum  of  ^20,000  for  the  support  of  a  professor 
of  theology  in  that  seminary ;  and  the  person  who 
has  filled  that  chair  has  been  distinguished  for  learn- 
ing and  other  qualifications  necessary  to  render  the 
department  useful,  in  fitting  young  men  foi  the 
Christian  ministry.  For  this  purpose  it  is  exclusively 
or  principally  intended.  The  other  principal  contri- 
butors to  the  funds  of  the  institution,  were  Hon. 
William  Bartlett,  Moses  Brown  of  Newburyport, 
and  John  Norris  of  Salem.    Such  generous  patrons 


10 


AMOS  ADAMS. 


of  religion  and  literature — and  of  the  latter  for  the 
sake  of  the  former — should  not  be  forgotten  by  those 
who  come  after  them. 

ADAMS,  Rev.  AMOS  had  his  public  education  in 
Harvard  College,  with  the  class  of  1752  ;  and  be- 
came the  regular  minister  of  the  first  Congregational 
Church  and  Society  in  Roxbury,  where  he  was  or- 
dained in  the  year  1755,  as  a  successor  of  Rev.  Ne- 
hemiah  Walter,  usually  called  'old  Mr.  Walter,'  who 
was  the  pastor  of  that  church  more  than  sixty  years. 
His  talents  and  acquirements  were  respectable  ;  his 
elocution  was  superior  to  most  of  his  clerical  breth- 
ren ;  his  compositions  were  more  ornamented  than 
common ;  and  he  was  therefore  a  popular  preacher. 
But  his  sermons  were  well  studied,  and  were  gener- 
ally solid,  sententious  and  impressive.  He  spoke 
with  ease,  and  a  good  degree  of  eloquence ;  and  was 
often  invited  to  preach  on  public  occasions.  He 
was  a  good  scholar  and  an  agreeable  writer ;  and 
though  not  so  learned  as  Thomas  Walter,  one  of  his 
predecessors,  his  publications  afford  evidence  of  a 
vigorous  and  cultivated  mind.  His  anniversary  dis- 
course contains  a  good  deal  of  useful  information  ; 
his  other  discourses,  which  were  given  to  the  public 
were  one  delivered  on  Election  day,  and  several  on 
ordination  occasions.  Like  most  of  the  clergy  of 
1775,  Mr.  Adams  was  an  advocate  for  civil  liberty, 
and  approved  of  the  noble  stand  made  by  the  whigs 
of  that  day  against  the  encroachments  of  arbitrary 
power.  He  was  Scribe  of  the  convention  of  minis- 
ters, which  met  at  Watertown,  where  the  Provincial 
Congress  of  Massachusetts  was  sitting  in  May,  1775, 
when  the  following  vote  was  passed : — "  Deeply  im- 
pressed with  sympathy  for  the  distresses  of  our  much 
injured  and  oppressed  country,  we  are  yet  relieved 
in  beholding  the  representatives  of  the  people,  chosen 
by  their  free  and  unbiassed  suffrages,  now  met  to 


BBNJAMIir    ADAMS. 


11 


for  the 
y  those 


ition  in 
ind  be- 
;ational 
was  or- 
ev.  Ne- 
jr,'  who 
f  years. 
)le  ;  his 
I  breth- 
3d  than 
reacher. 


pr 


let  to 


concert  measures  for  their  relief  and  defence ;  in 
whose  wisdom  and  integrity,  nnder  the  smiles  of  di- 
vine providence,  we  caimot  but  express  our  entire 
confidence.  And  as  it  has  been  found  necessary  to 
raise  an  cu-my  for  the  common  safety  ;  and  our  brave 
countrymen  have  willingly  offered  themselves  to  this 
hazardous  service,  we  are  not  insensible  of  the  vast 
burthen  that  the  maintenance  must  cause  to  the  peo- 
ple. We,  therefore,  cannot  forbear,  on  this  occasion, 
to  offer  our  services  to  the  public,  and  to  signify  our 
readiness,  with  the  consent  of  our  several  congrega- 
tions, to  officiate  by  rotation,  as  chaplains  to  the  ar- 
my. We  devoutly  commend  the  Congress  and  our 
brethren  in  arms,  to  the  guidance  and  protection  of 
providence ;  which,  from  the  first  settlement  of  the 
country;  has  remarkably  interposed  for  the  preserva- 
tion of  its  civil  and  religious  rights." 

ADAMS,  Hon.  BENJAMIN  was  educated  in 
Browih University,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1788. 
He  engaged  in  the  profession  of  the  law,  and  had 
the  reputation  of  a  good  lawyer,  and  a  fair  and  hon- 
orable practitioner.  He  was  esteemed  rather  for 
solid  abilities,  than  admired  for  brilliant  talents. — 
Such  was  his  character  for  good  judgment,  and  for 
correct  principles,  that  his  fellow  citizens  reposed  in 
him  the  greatest  confidence  and  often  elected  him  their 
representative  to  the  General  Court.  He  also  had 
the  election  for  a  member  of  Congress  from  the  peo- 
ple in  the  south  district  of  Worcester  County,  where 
he  lived,  in  a  time  of  great  political  excitement  and 
of  party  disputes  and  divisions.  Mr.  Adams  did  not 
greatly  excel  as  a  speaker  in  Congress ;  but  was  ju- 
dicious, and  always  heard  witli  attention  when  he 
addressed  the  House.  His  services  were  much  ap- 
preciated by  his  colleagues.  Mr.  Adams  was  also  a 
member  of  the  Senate  in  Massachusetts,  during  sev- 
eral elections ;  and  discharged  the  duties  of  a  legis- 


I 


ELIPHALET   ADAMS. 


lator  with  intelligence,  promptness  and  fidelity.  In 
the  more  private  and  social  relations  of  life,  he  was 
correct  and  exemplary,  and  enjoyed  the  esteem  of  a 
large  circle  of  relations  and  friends.  Mr.  Adams  did 
not  forget  the  duties  of  a  citizen,  or  of  the  head  of  a 
family  :  and  it  is  from  the  conduct  of  a  man  in  these 
relations  of  life  that  we  should  judge  of  his  moral 
worth,  rather  than  from  his  public  acts,  which  may 
proceed  from  ambition,  or  be  performed  solely  for 
human  applause.  Mr.  Adams  died  in  1837,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-two. 

ADAMS,  Rev.  ELIPHALET  received  his  edu- 
cation in  Harvard  College  with  the  class  of  1694: 
and  was  several  years  the  regular  pastor  of  a  con- 
gregational Church  in  New  liondon.  He  had  the 
reputation  of  a  learned  divine  and  a  faithful  minis- 
ter. He  understood  the  Hebrew  language  better 
than  most  scholars  of  his  time.  Several  of  his  dis- 
,  courses  were  published.  That  delivered  at  the 
funeral  of  Hon.  Gurdon  Saltonstall,  Governor  of 
Connecticut,  in  1724,  is  a  superior  composition; 
though  somewhat  in  the  formal  manner  of  that 
period.  The  following  paragraph  is  given  as  a  speci- 
men. 

"  How  doth  the  whole  land  shake  at  his  fall ! 
How  much  of  our  glory,  how  much  of  our  peace 
and  safety  is  buried  in  one  grave.  Every  heart  aches 
at  the  hearing  of  it,  and  every  eye  plentifully  pours 
out  tears  unto  God.  The  heavy  tidings  pass  swiftly 
from  place  to  place,  astonishing  all  as  it  goes,  and 
every  man,  amazed  at  the  news,  tells  it  to  his  trem- 
bling neighbor.  This  is  a  most  awful  dispensation 
of  divine  providence  indeed,  whether  we  consider 
the  suddenness  and  surprisingness  of  the  stroke,  or 
his  great  worth  and  excellent  accomplishments,  or 
the  eminent  station  in  which  he  was  placed,  and 
how  well  he  filled  and  adorned  it.    . 


JOHN    ADAMS. 


H 


ty.  In 
he  was 
em  of  a 
ims  did 
tad  of  a 
in  these 
s  moral 
ch  may 
lely  for 
',  at  the 


lis  edn- 
)f  1694: 
f  a  con- 
had  the 
I  minis- 
;e  better 
his  dis- 

at  the 
^ernor  of 
)osition ; 

of  that 
;  a  speci- 


iis 


fall! 
^r  peace 
irt  aches 


"Often  have  I  trembled  to  think  how  much  of 
our  glory  and  safety  was  bound  up  in  him;  and 
what  a  mighty  blow  we  should  be  made  to  feel  in 
the  day  when  it  should  please  God  to  remove  him " 
from  us.  The  melancholy  hour  has  at  length  come ; 
this  wise,  great  and  good  man  has  fallen,  with  all 
his  glories  fresh  about  him,  as  if  the  sun  should  go 
down  at  noon.  Every  mouth  is  filled  with  his 
praises,  and  can  scarcely  speak  of  anything  but  our 
heavy  loss.  And  indeed,  here  is  a  most  copious  sub- 
ject for  panegyric.  It  is  hard  to  say  what  should  - 
be  passed  in  silence  where  everything  may  be  said ; 
and  too  great  plenty  makes  us  poor.  Who  did  not . 
admire  his  consummate  wisdom,  profound  learning; 
his  dexterity  in  business,  and  indefatigable  applica- 
tion, his  intimate  acquaintance  with  men  and  things, 
and  his  superior  genius  1  And  what  is  more  than  all 
this,  his  unaffected  piety  and  love  to  God's  house ; 
his  exact  life  and  exemplary  conversation  7  We 
stood  in  fixed  attention,  with  our  ears  chained  to  his 
lips.  Would  his  humility  have  permitted  he  might 
justly  have  made  use  of  the  words  of  Job-—"  Unto 
me  men  gave  ear  and  waited,  and  kept  silence  at  my 
counsel.  After  my  words,  they  spake  not  again." — 
You  who  now  hear  me  know  the  truth  of  these 
things ;  and  that  there  is  little  danger  of  exceeding 
upon  so  copious  a  subject;  so  that  all  I  can  say  will 
fall  short  of  his  due  character,  and  that  it  must  be  a 
tongue  or  pen  like  his  own  which  can  do  him  justice." 

ADAMS,  Hon.  JOHN  a  native  of  Braintree,  now 
Quincy,  of  a  respectable  familv  b"»  not  highly  dis- 
tinguished, a  graduate  of  Harvard  College  in  1755, 
was  one  of  the  most  eminent  citizens  of  Massachu- 
setts ;  being  the  greater  part  of  a  long  life  in  the 
highest  public  stations,  and  in  which  he  rendered 
the  most  important  services  to  the  cause  of  liberty 
and  of  national  independence  and  glory.    While  at 


14 


JOHN  ADAMS. 


I 


the  University,  he  ranked  among  the  best  scholars, 
and  those  who  made  the  most  diligent  improvement 
of  their  literary  privileges:  and  he  there  laid  the 
foundation  for  sohd  and  extensive  learning,  which 
qualified  him  for  distinction  and  usefulness  in  the 
American  Republic,  beyond  the  most  of  his  age. 
Such  men  as  Wentworth,  Browne,  Gushing,  Sewall, 
Locke  and  Dalton  were  his  fellow  students,  and  in 
some  sense  perhaps,  his  literary  rivals.  It  was  the  lot 
of  Mr.  Adams  to  live  in  times  of  great  excitement  on 
political  subjects;  and  to  raiie,  or  to  regulate,  the 
storm  of  revolution.  The  man  who  had  talents  and 
resources  was  invited  to  enter  the  field  for  great  ac- 
tion, for  display  or  for  real  glory.  The  study  of  the 
law  seemed  to  fit  him  more  fully  to  understand  the 
nature  of  human  society,  the  design  of  civil  govern- 
ment and  the  natural  rights  of  mankind. 

In  opposition  to  the  arbitrary  measures  of  the 
British  ministry,  which  were  commenced  in  1764, 
and  led  to  the  Revolution  of  1775,  Massachusetts 
took  the  lead,  as  well  by  argument  and  remon- 
strances as  by  arms ;  and  John  Adams  was  one  of  the 
principal  characters,  by  which  the  controversy  was 
conducted.  James  Otis  and  Samuel  Adams,  per- 
haps, took  a  more  conspicuous  part,  in  1763 — 1768 : 
and  they  were  the  chief  or  original  actors  in  the 
political  contest.  In  some  respects,  they  are  entitled 
to  the  highest  praise.  Next  to  them,  and  Bowdoin 
and  Hawley  and  Dexter,  who  were  generally 
associated  with  them  on  committees  to  remonstrate 
against  the  measures  of  the  British  government,  John 
Adams  appears  most  prominent ;  and  after  1770,  no 
one  exerted  a  more  powerful  influence  than  he  did, 
in  support  of  the  cause  of  civil  liberty  and  of  the 
rights  of  the  Colonies.  He  then  had  a  seat  in  the 
legislature  from  Boston ;  and  was  on  some  of  the 
most  important  committees  appointed  that  year  and 
the  years  following  till  1775.    He  was  then  about 


:  n 


■-^i. 


JOHN   ADAMS. 


15 


was 


forty-five  years  of  age;  and  had  already  written  the 
very  masterly  essay  on  feudal  and  canon,  which 
served  to  open  the  eyes  of  the  people,  as  much  as 
"  the  rights  of  the  Colonics,"  by  James  Otis,  or  the 
able  writings  of  Samuel  Adams.  In  that  essay,  Mr. 
Adams  pointed  out  the  arbitrary  principles  and  un- 
just maxims,  which  had  long  prevailed  in  Europe, 
by  the  united  efforts  of  princes  and  prelates ;  and 
which  seemed  to  be  then  intended  as  a  system  for 
the  government  of  the  people  in  America. 

The  high  sense  entertained  of  the  talents  and 
learning  of  Mr.  Adams,  and  of  his  devotion  to  the 
cause  of  liberty  was  fully  manifested  by  his  election, 
with  four  others,  in  June  1774,  when  the  great  crisis 
drew  near,  to  act  for  the  Province  of  Massachusetts 
in  a  meeting  of  delegates  from  the  other  colonies,  at 
Philadelphia  in  September  following  ;  to  consult  on 
measures  necessary  for  the  freedom  and  welfare  of 
all.  He  acted  a  prominent  part  in  that  Congress,  as 
well  as  in  1775,  and  in  1776.  This  may  be  said  with- 
out any  derogation  of  the  abiUties  and  zeal  of  his  col- 
leagues, oy  of  delegates  from  other  colonies.  Massa- 
chusetts was  one  of  the  largest  colonies,  and  its  pat- 
riots and  statesmen  had  then  been  long  contending 
in  argument  with  the  British  ministry  and  its  agents. 
On  that  account  her  chosen  delegates  were  heard 
with  great  attention  and  deference.  But  they  were 
all  personally  respectable :  and  their  learning  and 
wisdom,  in  political  concerns,  of  the  highest  order. 
In  1778,  Mr.  Adams  was  appointed  by  Congress  as 
an  envoy  to  the  court  of  France,  to  solicit  the  friend- 
ly alliance  and  aid  of  that  power.  Afterwards,  he 
proceeded  to  Holland,  to  negociate  a  loan  for  the 
United  States,  then  so  necessary  to  meet  the  great 
expenses  of  the  war.  He  was  also  one  of  the  en- 
voys for  making  a  treaty  of  peace  with  England  in 
1782, — and  after  the  peace,  which  was  confirmed  in 
1783,  he  was  the  first  minister  to  the  British  king. 


u 


JOHN   ADAMS. 


In  all  these  highly  responsible  stations,  he  proved 
himself  fully  able  to  maintain  the  honor  and  rights 
of  the  Republic,  and  faithfully  devoted  to  its  interests 
and  welfare.  Mr.  Adams  assisted  in  preparing  the 
constitution  of  Massachusetts  in  1780;  he  was 
chosen  the  first  Vice  President  of  the  United  States 
in  1789,  under  the  federal  constitution  :  and  on  the 
retirement  of  General  Washington  from  the  pres- 
idency in  March,  1797,  Mr.  Adams  was  elected  to 
that  very  dignified  and  honorable  office.  When  he 
had  served  four  years  in  this  station,  he  retired  from 
public  life,  and  passed  the  residue  of  his  years  in 
the  domestic  circle.  When  the  constitution  of 
Massachusetts  was  revised  in  1820, — he  was  chosen 
a  member  of  the  convention  for  that  purpose.  He 
also  received  the  vote  of  the  whole  convention  for  its 

E resident,  but  declined,  on  account  of  his  infirm 
ealth.  He  was  then  eighty-six  or  seven.  But  h6 
addressed  the  convention  on  several  questions,  with 
much  pertinency  and  force.  He  contended  for  a 
continuance  of  the  provision  in  the  constitution,  as 
first  formed,  that  property  should  be  the  basis  of  a 
representation  in  the  Senate.  But  the  spirit  of  inno- 
vation, not  to  say  radicalism  was  strongly  opposed  to 
the  doctrine ;  and  afterwards,  that  provision  was 
repealed,  so  that  the  Senate  as  well  as  the  House  of 
Representatives  is  based  on  numbers;  and  not  in 
any  respect  on  property.  Mr.  Adams  died  on  the 
4th  of  July  1826 — just  fifty  years  after  he  reported 
and  signed  the  formal  declaration  by  Congress, 
*'  that  ttiese  United  States  are  free,  sovereign  and  in- 
dependent." Very  few  of  all  the  patriots  and  public 
servants  in  Massachusetts,  or  in  any  other  State  in 
the  Union,  have  devoted  so  much  of  life,  and  with 
SQ  great  and  favorable  an  influence,*  as  John  Adams. 
Speaking  of  eminent  lawyers  in  Massachusetts, 
some  one  has  said,  that  most  of  them  were  on  the 
side  of  the  British  government  in  1770  and  1775. 


JOBN   ADAMS. 


# 


LDAMS. 

|usetts, 

»n  the 

1775. 


This  may  be  true  of  the  older  ones ;  for  they  or 
their  relations  were  in  office.  But  it  is  a  fact,  not  to 
be  unrecorded,  t'lat  some  of  the  most  eminent  were 
the  advocates  for  civil  liberty.  As  Otis,  Hawley,  J. 
Adams,  W.  Cushing,  It.  T.  Paine,  J.  Foster,  Brad- 
bury, N.  P.  Sargent,  O.  Thacher,  John  Lowell,  Caleb 
Strong,  T.  Parsons,  David  Sewall,  John  and  James 
Sullivan ;  and  that  there  were  one  hundred  and 
thirty  of  the  sons  of  Harvard  who  engaged  in  the 
sacred  cause ;  in  the  civil  or  military  department. 
One  of  the  sons  of  Mr.  Adams,  Thomas  Boylston 
Adams,  was  educated  in  Cambridge  University,  and 
received  his  degree  in  1790.  He  engaged  in  the  pro- 
fession of  law ;  and  was  also  a  Judge  of  the  court  of 
Common  Pleas,  and  one  of  the  Executive  Council  in 
1811.  One  of  his  sons  survives,  John  Q.Adams; 
who  has  also  been  in  public  life,  in  various  stations  of 
the  highest  responsibility,  for  half  a  century — and  is 
scarcely  second  to  the  father  in  the  great  public  good 
which  he  has  been  the  instrument  of  securing.  He  is 
the  most  learned  man  in  the  United  States,  especially 
on  thesubject  of  legislation,  of  diplomacy,  of  natural 
and  constitutional  law,  and  of  general  politics.  And 
the  opinion  of  no  one  is  justly  entitled  to  more 
deference  and  consideration.  But  the  time  has  not 
come  to  speak  of  all  his  services,  and  to  do  full 
justice  to  his  character  as  a  public  man. 

ADAMS,  Rev.  JOHN  received  his  public  educa- 
tion in  Harvard  College,  with  the  class  of  1721.  He 
studied  divinity  and  was  sometime  the  pastor  of  a 
congregational  church  and  society  in  Newport,  R.  I. 
He  had  the  character  of  a  good  classical  scholar, 
and  was  also  distinguished  as  a  poet.  His  poetical 
lucubrations  might  not  appear  of  the  highest  order  or 
merit,  when  compared  with  those  of  some  men  of 
genius  of  later  times.  But  at  the  time  they  were 
written  they  were  much  above  mediocrity.  A  small 
2* 


18 


JOHN  ADAMS. 


volume  of  his  poems  was  published  in  1745.  Mr. 
Adams  was  sometime  in  very  feeble  health;  and 
early  resigned  his  pastoral  office  and  returned  to 
Boston ;  but  passed  a  great  portion  of  his  time  at  the 
college  in  Cambridge.  Some  parts  of  the  apocalypse 
of  St.  John  were  the  chosen  theme  of  his  rhymes. 
His  descriptions  are  sometimes  rich  and  glowing,  and 
there  are  some  towering  flights  of  imagination.  But 
his  efforts,  to  explain  this  remarkable  prophetic 
book,  were  not  more  successful  than  those  of  many 
other  learned  men  who  have  attempted  to  learn  its 
true  meaning.  Mr.  Adams  died  at  Cambridge  in 
1740.  The  volume  of  his  poems  was  published  by 
his  friends.  "  They  thought  his  own  works  the  best 
encomium  which  could  be  given  him ;  and  as  long 
as  learning  and  politeness  should  prevail,  that  his 
sermons  would  be  his  monument,  and  his  poetry  his 
epitaph."  He  has  given  the  last  paragraph  of  the 
fourth  chapter  of  the  apocalypse  as  follows  :  which 
is  offered  without  special  selection. 

"  While  thus  their  praises  through  the  skies  resonnd, 

To  him,  with  glory,  life  and  honor  crowned, 

I!ach  elder,  rising  from  his  radiant  seat. 

His  crown  bestows,  and  worships  at  his  feet. 

Before  the  throne  the  glitt'ring  honors  fall, 

And  on  the  Soitrcb  of  endless  ages  call, 

Worthy  forever,  worthy  to  receive 

The  glory  and  the  honor  which  we  give — 

All  might  and  majesty  to  thee  belongs, 

And  all  the  worship  of  unfailing  tongues. 

For  by  thy  power  was  raised  the  lofty  world. 

The  stars  were  kindled  and  the  planets  whirl'd» 

The  sun  was  cloth'd  with  an  imperial  robe. 

And  all  the  species  flock *d  upon  the  globe. 

Thy  pleasure  formed,  thy  virtue  does  sustain 

The  lianging  orbs,  which  arch  the  mighty  plain." 

His  sermons  are  on  the  following  subjects :  the  un- 
known God  ;  the  Prince  of  Life  exalted  ;  Poverty  of 
Spirit ;  the  way  to  a  Kingdom ;  the  condescension 
ot  God  in  accepting  our  charities ;  the  Christian 
fighting  for  the  robes  of  victory;  the  bounds   of 


MATTHEW   ADAUS. 


19 


i 


Christian  prudence  stated ;  how  to  make  friends  of 
the  mammon  of  unrighteousness ;  the  blind  restored, 
and  the  miserable  relieved ;  preparations  for  death 
the  best  remedy  against  the  suddenness  of  it. 

Several  odes  of  Horace  are  also  versified,  and  an 
extract  is  here  given. 

Horace,  Lib.  Ill,  ode  1. 

*'  The  Tolgar  crew  inspire  my  jaat  disdain, 

Hence,  fly  my  presence,  all  ye  mob  profane. 

Ye  few  judicious,  view  my  lofty  verse. 

And  let  yonr  tongues  your  just  applause  rehearse, 

Kings  reign  tremendous  o'er  their  proper  flocks. 

But  Jove  sublime  their  meaner  empire  mocks : 

Illuatrious,  by  eternal  triumphs  won 

O'er  giant  rebels  to  his  celestial  throne  : 

Who  by  the  force  of  his  resistless  name. 

Moves  at  his  will  this  wide  extended  frame. 

Some,  with  a  genius  for  the  rural  toil 

Can  Setter  prune  the  trees  and  tend  the  soil. 

This,  with  a  warmer  flush  of  spirits  fill'd. 

With  noble  ardor  seeks  the  martial  field. 

Another,  by  diviner  pride  inspired. 

Is  by  the  glorious  prize  of  virtue  fir'd, 

A  fourth  when  with  a  crowd  of  clients  press'd 

Than  all  the  former  deems  himself  more  blest : 

But  fate,  resistless,  deals  about  her  darts, 

Which  pierce  alike  the  proud  and  humble  hearts  : 

And  from  her  huge  and  wide  containing  nm. 

Scatters  to  all  the  lots  too  soon  they  mourn-— 

Since  then  no  maLsion's  high  magnificence.  / 

Nor  garments  tinctured  o'er  with  purple  stains  ; 

Nor  charming  flavor  of  Falemian  wine 

Nor  oils,  whose  rich  perfumes  the  sense  refine, 

Can  grief  dispel,  nor  give  my  sorrows  ease. 

Why  should  I  wish  a  lofty  edifice  ? 

Or  why  should  I  exchange  my  Sabine  field 

For  vast  possessions,  which  less  ^easure  yield." 

ADAMS,  MATTHEW  was  a  citizen  of  Boston ; 
and  had  the  reputation  of  an  ingenious  mechanic, 
and  of  a  greater  taste  for  literature  than  is  often  dis-> 
covered  by  those  who  labor  with  their  hands  for  a 


20 


.<s  SAMUEL   ADAMS. 


^:- 


living.  He  was  inquisitive  and  fond  of  reading;. 
This  is  now  indeed  the  case  with  most  mechanics  in 
New  England  ;  they  spend  a  considerable  portion  of 
their  time  in  reading,  or  in  studying  treatises  or  the 
physical  sciences  for  the  purpose  of  a  better  knowl- 
edge of  their  occupation,  and  some  of  them  collect 
a  good  library,  to  occupy  their  leisure  hours.  Sever- 
al of  this  character  might  be  named  who  are  now 
living.  Mr.  Adams  belonged  to  a  club  of  which 
Rev.  Dr.  Bylcs  was  a  member,  and  it  is  well  known 
that  Dr.  Byles  attended  to  the  subject  of  natural 
philosophy  as  much  as  any  one  of  his  time.  Dr. 
Franklin,  then  qtiite  a  yoimg  man  speaks  of  Mr.  . 
Adams,  and  acknowledges  his  obligations  to  him  for 
the  use  of  books — "  Mr.  Matthew  Adams,  an  in- 
genious mechanic,  took  notice  of  me.  He  frequented 
our  printing  office,  and  had  a  handsome  collection  of 
books.  He  invited  me  to  visit  his  library;  and  had 
the  goodness  to  lend  me  many  books  I  was  desirous 
of  reading."  Mr.  Adams  was  also  a  poet,  and  pub- 
lished some  poetical  essays — but  not  of  so  high  mer- 
it, as  to  give  him  a  conspicuous  rank  among  Ameri- 
can poets. 

ADAMS,  NATHANIEL  of  Portsmouth,  was  edu- 
cated at  Dartmouth  College,  N.  H.  1775,  and  receiv- 
ed an  honorary  degree  of  A.  M.  from  the  Corporation 
of  Harvard  University  in  1790.  He  may  justly  be 
ranked  among  the  worthy  and  useful  citizens  of  his 
time,  though  he  was  not  highly  distinguished  as  a 
literary  character.  His  talent  was  not  buried  in  a 
napkin ;  and  if  it  did  not  produce  an  hundred  per  ^ 
cent,  it  was  so  occupied  as  to  secure  him  the  esteem 
of  his  fellow  men.  How  much  more  estimable,  how 
much  more  justly  to  be  honored  and  applauded  than 
the  few  who  shine  only  to  dazzle,  and  who  excite 
admiration  rather  than  gain  the  full  confidence  of 
their  associates. 


SAMUEL  ADAMS. 


ADAMS,  SAMUEL  of  Boston,  and  a  graduate 
of  Harvard  College  in  tlie  year  1740,  deserves  a 
high  place  among  the  scholars  and  patriots  of  Massa- 
chusetts. He  descended  from  a  very  respectable 
family ;  and  was  related  to  President  John  Adams : 
but  not  a  brother,  as  has  sometimes  been  asserted. 
At  college,  he  was  distinguished  for  diligent  study, 
and  great  decision  and  firmness  of  character,  and 
these  traits  marked  his  conduct  afterwards  in  public 
life.  He  was  one  of  the  early  and  active  supporters 
of  political  liberty,  in  the  controversy  with  Great 
Britain ;  which  began  in  1764  and  issued  in  the 
Revolution  of  1775.  He  had  great  influence  with  his 
fellow  townsmen  for  some  years  before  he  went  into 
the  General  Court ;  which  was  in  1765.  It  is  not 
too  much  perhaps  to  say  that  he  and  Ave  or  six 
other  men  of  Massachusetts  were  the  chief  and 
principal  supporters  of  the  cause  of  the  Colonies,  Pt 
that  very  alarming  and  critical  period.  The  people 
were  indeed  wonderfully  united  in  opposing  the 
arbitrary  and  oppressive  measures  adopted  or  pro- 
posed by  the  British  ministry  at  that  day.  They 
were  intelligent  and  well  informed,  and  well  under- 
stood their  civil  rights  and  privileges.  And  without 
such  union  in,  and  aid  from,  the  great  body  of  the 
people,  Adams  and  Otis  and  a  few  other  leading 
characters  would  not  have  been  successful  in  op- 
posing the  arbitrary  power  of  the  British  govern- 
ment. Mr.  Adams  never  faltered  in  the  cause;  and 
when  threatened  or  attempted  to  be  bribed  by  office 
from  the  British,  he  manfully  resisted.  He  was  the 
first  to  suggest  that  independence  might  be  the  re- 
sult of  the  struggle ;  and  yet  he  did  not  recommend 
it  till  the  British  made  an  attack  on  the  colonies  by 
armed  men,  and  sought  by  force  to  carry  into  effect 
their  oppressive  measures.  Mr.  Adams  was  a  truly 
religious  man,  and  his  conduct  as  a  politician  and  a 


22 


SAMUEL  ADAMS. 


public  agent,  was  such  as  his  conscience  and  best 
judgment  approved.  From  1765  be  continued  in 
public  life  for  most  of  the  time  till  he  was  nearly 
eighty  years  of  age.  In  1774,  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  Continental  Congress,  and  continued 
one  of  that  august  body  till  1781.  He  was  several 
years  President  of  the  Senate  of  Massachusetts ; 
then  Lieutenant  Governor,  and  Governor  of  the 
Commonwealth.  In  1797,  he  declined  a  re-election. 
He  was  one  of  those  high  minded  men  who  v  juld 
endure  poverty,  but  could  not  consent  to  be  slaves. 
Mr.  Adams  contended,  at  an  early  period  of  the  dis- 
pute with  England,  that  the  parliament  had  no 
right  to  make  laws  for  the  colonies,  except  as  to 
foreign  commerce,  as  they  were  not  represented  in 
that  body.  And  that  the  Representatives  here  were 
a  House  of  Commons  for  each  province,  to  lay  and 
appropriate  taxes,  and  to  regulate  all  internal  con- 
cerns. He  admitted,  that  we  owed  allegiance  to  the 
crown;  but  denied  the  authority  of  Parliament  in 
all  legislation  relating  to  the  colonies.  Mr.  Adams 
procured  a  vote  that  the  speaker  should  correspond 
with  agents  in  England,  on  the  subject  of  parliamen- 
tary claims  to  legislate  for  the  colonies ;  and  also 
with  the  legislative  assemblies  of  the  other  colonies. 
This  was  as  early  as  1768 ;  though  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Mayhew  proposed  it  two  years  before.  A  corres- 
pondence was  opened  in  1768  with  the  speakers  of 
other  colonial  assemblies  on  the  importance  of  having 
a  mutual  interchange  of  opinions  on  public  and 
political  affairs,  and  for  the  purpose  of  acting  in  con- 
cert. And  again  in  1773,  when  S.  Adams,  J.  Han- 
cock, J.  Hawley,  W.  Phillips,  W.  Heath,  James 
Warren,  I.  Prescott,  J.  Foster,  R.  Derby,  Jr.,  J. 
Greenleaf,  E.  Gerry  and  T.  Gardner — were  also 
members  of  the  committee.  Mr.  Adams  exerted  all 
his  influence  in  suppressing  the    insurrection    in 


SAMCRL    ADAMil. 


23 


Massachusetts  in  1786.  He  was  then  president  of 
the  Senate ;  and  gave  his  firm  support  to  the 
measures  adopted  hy  Governor  Bowdoin  to  put 
down  that  dangerous  opposition  to  the  regular  course 
of  law  and  justice.  His  mode  of  living  was  very 
simple  and  unostentatious ;  much  in  the  style  of  the 
puritans  of  former  generations.  He  had  a  son  Sam- 
uel, who  was  a  respectable  physician,  and  a  surgeon 
in  the  American  army  ;  who  was  also  a  graduate  of 
Harvard  College  in  1770.  He  died  before  the  Gov- 
ernor, his  father.  A  full  account  of  the  public 
services  of  Governor  Adams  will  probably  be  soon 
prepared  for  publication  ;  and  must  be  an  acceptable 
work  to  all  such  as  wish  to  have  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  events  previous  to  the  Revolution. 
Mr.  Adams  was  of  a  decided  religious  character  ;  in 
his  faith  and  manners,  he  was  quite  a  puritan. 
With  his  views  of  providence,  he  could  justly  com- 
mend the  cause  of  American  liberty  to  Heaven,  and 
appeal  to  the  Lord  of  Hosts  for  his  favorable  inter- 
ference for  a  people  struggling  for  freedom  and  for 
justice. 

ADAMS,  Dr.  SAMUEL  was  a  native  of  Killingly 
in  the  State  of  Connecticut ;  and  descended  from 
Henry  Adams,  who  came  to  New  England  in  1630. 
He  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Nathaniel  Freeman 
of  Sandwich,  Massachusetts,  who  was  an  ardent 
patriot  of  the  memorable  period  of  1775  ;  being  one 
of  the  most  active  whigs  in  the  county  of  Barn- 
stable. Dr.  Adams  was  in  the  practice  of  medicine 
at  Truro  in  that  county  until  the  dispute  between 
Great  Britain  and  the  Colonies  in  North  America, 
which  had  then  become  extremely  interesting,  giving 
great  anxiety  and  alarm  to  the  friends  of  civil  liberty 
as  to  the  result.  The  general  resolution  was  to  con- 
tend for  and  maintain  political  rights  and  privileges, 
so  long  ei\joyed  by  previous  generations,  at  every 


t  r^ 


24 


ZABDIEL   ADAMS. 


hazard.  The  young  men  of  twenty  engaged  with 
ardor  in  the  cause  :  and  readily  followed  where  the 
older  and  more  judicious  directed.  Dr.  Adams  acted 
as  one  of  the  committee  of  correspondence  in  the 
town  of  Truro;  such  committees  having  been  raised 
in  all  the  towns,  on  recommendation  of  the  General 
Court.  He  entered  the  army  at  an  early  day,  after 
the  war  began,  as  surgeon,  or  surgeon's  mate ;  but 
was  a  surgeon  the  greater  part  of  the  war  and  till 
the  close  in  1783 :  and  had  the  reputation  of  a 
skilful  physician.  After  the  war,  Dr.  Adams  settled 
at  Bath,  in  Maine,  on  the  Kennebec  river ;  and  there 
had  an  extensive  practice  till  near  the  period  of  his 
death,  in  1819,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four.  He  was 
a  professor  of  religion  ;  and  gave  evidence  of  its  pow- 
er on  his  heart  and  life.  As  a  practising  physician 
in  Bath,  he  enjoyed  the  confidence  and  respect  of  the 
whole  community  in  which  he  was  known.  He  had 
several  children,  most  of  them  living — one  is  settled 
in  the  ministry  at  Coventry,  in  Rhode  Island.  It  is 
justly  due  to  his  memory  to  mention,  that  he  gave 
them  a  good  education. 

ADAMS,  Rev.  ZABDIEL  was  ordained  pastor 
of  the  church  in  Lunenburg  soon  after  he 
finished  his  collegiate  course  of  studies  in  Harvard 
College,  which  was  in  the  year  1759.  He  was  a 
native  of  Braintree,  and  first  cousin  to  President 
John  Adams.  Of  an  ardent  temperament,  and  some- 
what disposed  to  exercise  more  power  in  the  church 
as  minister  then  the  brethren  would  allow,  he  was 
often  engaged  in  unprofitable  disputes  with  them 
and  with  some  of  the  clergy  in  his  vicinity,  who 
were  content  with  and  ussumed  less  authority  than 
he  contended  for.  He  claimed  to  have  a  full  nega- 
tive on  any  vote  of  his  church ;  but  the  republican 
spirit  of  the  people  would  not  acquiesce  in  his  doc- 
trine.    He  was  often  very  independent,  some  would 


ISAAC   ADDiNOTON. 


• 


red  with 
here  the 
ms  acted 
le  in  the 
en  raised 

General 
ay,  after 
late;  but 

and  till 
ion  of  a 
ns  settled 
and  there 
Dd  of  his 

He  was 
f  its  pow- 
physician 
lect  of  the 
.  He  had 
is  settled 
id.  It  is 
t  he  gave 


ted  pastor 

lafter    he 

Harvard 

ie  was  a 

[President 

ind  some- 

le  church 

he  was 

lith  them 

jity,  who 

rity  than 

[ill  nega- 

jppublican 

Ihis  doc- 

ie  would 


say  imprudent,  in  his  conduct,  and  in  advancing  his 
own  opinions,  however  he  might  differ  from  the  ma- 
jority, or  the  orthodox.  His  frankness  and  honesty 
were  approved  by  all  honorable  men ;  but  it  was 
believed  he  might  have  retained  his  character  for 
uprightness  and  yet  have  been  more  reserved  and 
prudent.  The  independent  searcher  after  truth  is 
deserving  the  highest  praise ;  but  he  may  at  the 
same  time  be  moderate  and  candid  in  advancing  his 
own  sentiments,  when  differing  Trom  those  enter- 
tained by  the  majority.  He  was  called  upon  to 
preach  on  various  public  occasions ;  and  several  of 
his  sermons  were  published.  Mr.  Adams  died  in 
1801,  at  the  age  of  sixty-two.       ' 

ADDINGTON,  Hon.  ISAAC  came  early  to  Mas- 
sachusetts, but  not  among  the  first  settlers,  in  1628 
or  1630.     He  Was  called  to  the  public  service  for  a 
great  portion  of  his  life.     He  had  a   commission   for 
the  peace,  when  he  was  quite  young,  and  had  the 
character  of  an  upright  magistrate.     He  also  had  a 
seat  in  the  House  of  the  General  Assembly,  as  a 
deputy  from  Boston,  and  was  speaker  of  the   House 
in  1685.     He  lived  in  the  time  of  Sir  Edmund  An- 
dross,  who  was  sent  into  the  province  in  1686,  after 
the  first  charter  was  seized  and  declared   forfeited ; 
and  who  was  as  despotic  and  oppressive  in  his  con- 
duct, as  the  principles  of  his  rojal  master,  James  II., 
were  arbitrary.     But,  with  other  advocates  for  civil 
liberty,  as  granted  or  recognized  by  that  charter,  he 
was  opposed  to  the  administration  of  Andross.     He 
was,   however,   a  man   of  great    moderation   and 
prudence  ;  and  opposed  the  tyrant  only  in  a  lawful 
and  conslitiitional  way.     When   Andross  was  put 
down  in  1689,  on  the  abdication  of  James  H.  and 
the  glorious  revolution   took  place  in   England,  Mr. 
Addington  was  then  appointed   Secretary,   by  the 
whigs,  or  patriotic  party  ;  Governor  Bradstreet  and 
3 


i  \ 


■i.i 


26 


ICHABOD  ALDEN. 


Others  who  were  in  office  in  Massachusetts  before  the 
usurpation  of  Andross,  being  restored  to  the  places 
which  they  had  respectively  held  in  1686.  When 
the  second  charter  was  made  out,  by  King  William 
in  1691-2,  it  provided  for  the  appointment  of  the 
Governor  and  Secretary  by  the  crown.  Mr.  Adding- 
ton  received  a  commission  for  the  latter ;  probably 
by  the  recommendation  of  Dr.  Increase  Mather,  a 
minister  of  Boston,  then  agent  in  England  for  Mas- 
sachusetts. Under  the  first  charter,  and  before  ihe 
time  of  Andross,  he  had  been  one  of  the  Board  of 
Assistants,  or  Supreme  Executive  Council.  He  held 
the  office  of  secretary  several  years,  and  until  the 
infirmities  of  age  rendered  it  proper  for  him  to  retire. 
He  had  the  character  of  an  able  and  upright  public 
officer, — and  he  had  great  dignity  of  manners ; 
which,  with  a  common  share  of  intelligence  and 
prudence  generally  gives  a  man  respectability  with 
his  neighbors  and  associates.  .4     ,  i  ri-isv  .sj:^^^ 

ALDEN,  Colonel  ICHABOD  son  of  Samuel 
Alden,  was  a  iield  officer  for  several  of  the  first  years 
of  the  American  Revolution.  He  had  the  command  of 
one  of  the  regular  continental  regiments  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts line ;  which  in  1777 — 1780  consisted  of 
sixteen  of  infantry  and  one  artillery  ;  making  nearly 
one  fifth  part  of  the  whole  American  army  under 
General  Washington.  At  the  same  time,  the  State  of 
Massachusetts  had  two  militia  regiments  in  service, 
to  guard  the  coasts  and  harbors ;  and  recruits  were 
also  sent  to  the  regular  army,  from  time  to  time,  for 
three,  six,  or  nine  months.  And  thus  at  one  period, 
every  fourth  man,  of  those  legally  liable  to  perform 
military  service,  was  engaged  in  the  public  defence 
of  the  country  against  the  British  army.  Colonel 
Alden  was  a  brave  and  accomplished  officer.  He 
had  many  warm  personal  friends,  for  he  possessed  so- 
cial feelings  and  was  highly  honorable  in  his  inter- 


JOHN   ALDEN. 


27 


ifore  the 
3  places 
When 
William 
t  of  the 
Adding- 
)robably 
[ather,  a 
or  Mas- 
jfore  ;he 
{oard  of 
He  held 
mtil  the 
to  retire, 
t  public 
lanners ; 
nee  and 
ity  with 


Samuel 

rst  years 

imand  of 

Massa- 

is  ted  of 

g  nearly 

under 

State  of 

service, 

its  were 

ime,  for 

period, 

perform 

defence 

Colonel 

er.     He 

issed  so- 

s  inter- 


i 


course  with  others.  After  the  capture  of  the  British 
army  near  Saratoga,  under  General  Bourgoyne,  in  Oc- 
tober 1777,  Col.  Alden  was  stationed  with  his  regiment 
some  distance  west  of  Albany,  at  a  place  called 
Cherry  Valley,  where  being  surprised  by  the  Indians, 
then  under  the  direction  of  the  British,  he  was  slain  ; 
and  several  of  his  officers  and  men  fell  victims  to  the 
cruelty  of  the  savages  at  the  same  time.  Colonel 
Alden  had  not  seen  any  military  service  when  the 
revolutionary  war  began,  except  that  he  had  been  an 
officer  of  the  militia  a  short  time.  He  was  then  a 
Lieut.  Colonel  of  the  Plymouth  regiment,  command- 
ed by  Theophilus  Cotton,  Esq.  There  were  then 
some  independent  companies,  called  minute  men. 
Judah  Alden,  now  living,  at  the  age  of  ninety-two, 
July  1842,  was  an  officer  of  ihe  minute  company  in 
the  town  of  Duxbury.  Andrew  Sampson,  another 
officer  of  that  company,  still  survives,  of  about  the 
same  age.  These  brave  men  had  much  of  the  spirit 
of  their  ancestors;  who,  though  desirous  of  peace 
and  seeking  peace  as  far  as  possible,  considered  it  a 
duty  to  be  prepared  for  self  defence,  and  therefore 
resisted  with  arms  the  cruel  savages,  when  in- 
treaties  and  forbearance  and  kindness,  had  no  effect 
in  preventing  their  hostile  depredations.  >•  ■ 

ALDEN,  JOHN  was  one  of  the  puritan  founders 
of  Plymouth  colony  in  1620.  He  came  over  in  the 
first  ship,  the  May-flower,  with  Carver,  Bradford, 
Brewster,  Winslow,  Standish,  and  others.  He  be- 
longed to  the  Leyden  company,  who  suffered  so 
much  for  the  sacred  rights  of  conscience ;  but  he 
was  the  youngest  of  those  who  were  considered  as 
the  principal  members  of  that  company.  He  was 
only  twenty-two  years  of  age,  when  they  arrived  on 
the  shores  of  New  England  in  November  1620.  He 
is  always  named  with  the  six  leading  characters  of 
the  colony  ;  and  no  important  measure  was  proposed 
or  a  responsible  agency  ordered,  in  which  he  had 


28 


JOHN   ALDEN. 


I>       i 


not  a  part.  He  was  early  an  assistant  to  the  Gov- 
ernor, and  continued  such  till  the  last  year  of  his 
long  life.  His  death  occurred  in  1687,  when  he  was 
of  the  age  of  eighty-nine  years.  He  was  often  join- 
ed with  Captain  S^andish,  for  council.  He  was 
sometime  the  oldest  assistant  or  councillor,  and 
therefore  had  the  title  of  deputy  governor.  In 
stature,  the  tradition  is,  that  he  was  well  formed, 
robust,  and  athletic  ;  of  a  fair  and  comely  counte- 
nance. When  he  waited  on  Miss  Mullins  at  the  re- 
quest of  Captain  Standish,  to  solicit  the  hand  of  that 
young  lady  for  the  brave  military  commander,  she 
was  so  captivated  with  his  person,  as  well  as  admirer 
of  his  general  character,  that  she  hinted  to  him  that 
he  was  preferred  in  her  eyes  to  the  friend  for  whom 
Mr.  Alden  sued.  And  soon  after  Miss  Mullins  was 
marries  to  the  handsome  young  man,  "  who  first 
stept  on  Plymouth  rock."  He  was  exemplary  in  all 
the  relations  of  life;  and  his  descendants  may  well 
reflect  both  on  his  public  and  domestic  character 
with  high  gratification.  He  has  been  likened  to 
Brewster  for  piety,  as  well  as  to  Standish  for  bravery. 
He  was  one  of  the  first  who  settled  on  the  north 
side  of  the  bay,  on  which  Plymouth  is  situated  ; 
which  early  received  the  name  of  Duxbury,  from 
respect  to  Captain  Standish,  who  there  also  took  up 
land  and  built  a  house  for  his  permanent  residence. 
In  1628,  when  the  debts  of  the  colony  due  in  Eng- 
land were  very  great  and  most  of  the  merchant  ad- 
venturers withdrew  their  aid,  and  demanded  pay  for 
their  shares,  and  thus  the  plantation  was  in  danger 
of  being  broken  up  and  abandoned,  seven  of  the 
principal  persons  at  Plymouth  became  responsible 
for  the  debt  of  the  whole  company ;  these  were 
Bradford,  Winslow,  Brewster,  Standish,  Allerton, 
Alden  anu  Howland.  Mr.  Alden  had  four  sons. 
One  lived  in  Boston,  and  had  the  command  of  the 
public  armed  vessel  of  Massachusetts ;  and  often 
visited  the  coasts  of  Maine,  where  the  few  En  glish 


SAMUEL    ALDEN — TIMOTHY    ALDEN. 


he  Gov- 
r  of  his 
1  he  was 
ten  join- 
He  was 
or,    and 
lor.      In 
formed, 
counte- 
t  the  re- 
d  of  that 
der,  she 
admirer 
liim  that 
r  whom 
line  was 
;rho  first 
iry  in  all 
lay  well 
•haracter 
{ened  to 
bravery, 
le  north 
ituated  ; 
ry,  from 
took  up 
isidence. 
n   Eng- 
lant  ad- 
pay  for 
danger 
1  of  the 
ponsible 
e    were 
Lllerton, 
r  sons, 
of  the 
often 
^n  gli&h 


settlers  were  much  exposed  to  attacks  from  the 
French  and  Indians.  A  lane  or  street  in  Boston 
was  named  after  him.  One  of  his  sons  possessed 
the  farm  which  he  himself  originally  occupied.  One 
resided  part  of  his  life  in  Bridge  water ;  the  youngest 
also  lived  in  Duxbury  on  a  farm  in  the  westerly 
part  of  the  town.  Samuel  Alden,  son  of  the  last 
named,  and  grandson  of  John  first  mentioned,  lived 
to  the  age  of  ninety-three ;  his  death  took  place  in 
1780.  The  sons  of  John  Alden  were  respectable, 
and  lived  to  a  great  age,  and  so  did  many  of  his  de- 
scendants of  the  third  and  fourth  generations.  One 
of  his  grandsons  settled  in  Bridgewater,  and  one  in 
Lebanon,  Connecticut.  His  daughters  married 
Standish,  Bass  of  Braintree,  Paybody,  and  Delano. 
The  writer  of  this  article  has  a  distinct  and  perfect 
recollection  of  the  grandson  Samuel. 

ALDEN,  SAMUEL  the  father  of  Colonel  Alden, 
was  a  grandson  of  the  first  John  Alden.  He 
died  in  1780,  at  th^  age  of  ninety-three.  He  in- 
herited much  of  the  spirit  of  his  grandfather; 
and  was  a  resolute,  active,  and  independent  charac- 
ter. He  was  attached  to  the  religious  institutions  of 
the  founders  of  the  colony,  and  conscientious  in  the 
discharge  of  all  christian  duties  ;  but  opposed  to 
itinerant  preachers  and  "  new  lights^'  He  discounte- 
nanced Whitfield,  as  he  believed  more  evil  than 
good  was  produced  by  his  exciting  addresses  to  the 
fears  and  passions  of  the  common  people, 

ALDEN,  Rev.  TIMOTHY  whose  father  was 
minister  of  a  church  in  Yarmouth,  Massachusetts, 
received  his  public  education  in  Harvard  College 
with  the  class  of  1794.  He  was  very  diligent  in  his 
studies  while  a  member  of  the  University ;  and  un- 
derstood the  Hebrew  language  better  than  any  of  his 
-    ,    ■      3*       ■      ■    


90 


.^■:M.i^ 


JAMBS   ALLBN. 


I 


p. 
f 


fellow  students.  Literary  pursuits  occupied  his  time 
after  he  left  the  college.  He  had  charge  of  an 
academy  for  several  years,  and  at  the  same  time  at- 
tended to  theological  studies ;  for  it  was  early  his 
purpose  to  enter  the  clerical  profession.  He  was 
ordained  over  one  of  the  Congregational  churches  in 
Portsmouth,  in  New  Hampshire;  and  had  the 
cht>''ucter  of  an  attentive  and  faithful  pastor.  His 
labors  in  the  pulpit  were  acceptable ;  for  though  not 
eloquent,  he  was  earnest  and  impressive  in  the  de- 
livery of  his  sermons,  which  were  plain  and  evan- 
gelical. Mr.  Alden  gave  much  of  his  time  to  the 
early  history  of  New  England,  and  to  the  collection 
and  preservation  of  documents,  illustrating  the 
characters  and  stating  events  of  past  generations. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical 
Society,  and  furnished  several  articles  for  the  volumes 
which  have  been  published.  Mr.  Alden  was  in- 
strumental in  founding  a  college  at  Meadville  in  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania,  of  which  he  was  several 
years  the  principal.  But  its  funds  were  small,  and 
the  number  of  students  few  :  seldom  more  than  five 
or  six  at  the  same  time.  He  retired  from  that  Semi- 
nary some  years  before  his  decease,  which  occurred 
in  1839.  Mr.  Alden  published  several  sermons ;  and 
five  volumes  of  epitaphs  of  eminent  men  in  New 
England ;  which  contain  facts  interesting  to  those 
descended  from  the  ancient  families  in  the  country. 

ALLEN,  Rev.  JAMES  came  to  New  England  in 
1663,  with  several  others  of  the  non-conforming  min- 
isters, who  after  the  restoration  of  Charles  II.  were 
ejected :  Neal  «ays  about  two  thousand  were  de- 
prived of  their  places,  as  pastors  of  churches,  at  that 
period.  Mr.  Allen  was  personally  known  to  some  of 
the  clergy,  then  in  Massachusetts,  and  he  hadxa 
high  reputation  as  a  scholar  and  a  divine.  A  few 
years  after  his  arrival  he  was  chosen  the  pastor  of 


SAMUEL   C.   ALLEN. 


his  time 
;e  of  an 
time  at- 
sarly  his 
He  was 
irches  in 
lad  the 
or.  His 
ugh  not 
the  de- 
id  evan- 
e  to  the 
ol  lection 
ing  the 
erations. 
listoricai 
volumes 
was  in- 
le  in  the 
several 
all,  and 
lan  five 
at  Semi- 
)ccurred 
•ns;  and 
in  New 
those 
)untry. 


;land  in 

ng  niin- 
I.  were 

ere  de- 
at  that 

some  of 
had^a 
A  few 
stor  of 


the  first  church  in  Boston,  and  was  sometime  a 
culleagtie,  with  Rev,  John  Davenport^  who  had  been 
minister  of  the  church  at  New  Haven  nearly  thirty 
years.  Most  of  the  churches  in  Boston  had  then 
two  pastors;  or  a  pastor  and  teacher.  With  Mr. 
Wilson  the  first  pastor,  Mr.  Cotton  was  several  years 
associated  as  the  teacher ;  and  after  his  death  Mr. 
Norton,  who  had  before  been  settled  at  Ipswich. 
Mr.  Allen  was  a  man  of  learning,  judgment  and  a 
good  measure  of  zeal,  and  his  infiuence  was  de- 
servedly great  in  the  churches.  He  also  took  a  deep 
interest  in  favor  of  Harvard  Collpge;  and  was 
several  years  one  of  the  corporation  of  that  Institu- 
tion. He  died  in  1710,  still  connected  with  the  first 
church  in  Boston ;  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight.  He 
published  occasional  sermons  and  essays  on  polemic 
divinity.  An  early  writer  speaks  of  him  "as  humble 
and  very  rich,  and  who  could  be  generous  when 
the  humor  is  upon  him."  At  his  death  he  was  the 
oldest  member  of  the  corporation.  He  was  in  favor 
of  the  learned  Judge  Leverett  as  President  of  the 
College :  and  did  much  to  promote  his  election  when 
some  opposed  it.         -^j' 


(.,,"(     ttj:>/-..  ^: 


.»?» 


ALLEN,  Hon.  SAMUEL  C.  received  his  public 
education  in  Dartmouth  College,  and  was  settled  in 
the  ministry,  over  the  Congregational  Church  and 
Society  in  New  Salem,  in  the  north  part  of  the  old 
county  of  Hampshire,  Massachusetts.  He  remained 
in  that  station  and  connection  several  years,  when 
he  requested  and  received  a  dismission  from  the 
church, — and  afterwards  entered  the  legal  profession. 
In  1822,  he  represented  the  part  of  the  State  in 
which  he  resided  in  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States;  and  received  the  election  at  two  successive 
terms  following.  He  then  held  a  seat  in  the  council 
as  &.  constitutional  adviser  of  the  (lovernor  of  the 
Commonwealth.    Mr.  Allen  died  in  February  1842, 


32 


ISAAC  ALLERTON. 


1 

I.       ,1 


at  the  age  of  seventy.  His  literary  privileges  and 
advantages  were  not  lost  upon  him.  He  had  an  ex- 
tensive knowledge  of  men  and  thines,  and  always 
kept  pace  with  the  improvements  of  the  age.  His 
mental  powers  were  of  a  superior  order;  he  had 
great  discernment,  a  quick  apprehension,  and  a  sense 
of  discrimination  possessed  by  few.  Mr.  Allen  pro- 
nounced an  eulogy  on  the  character  of  Dr.  Wheelock, 
president  of  Dartmouth  College,  on  the  day  of  com- 
mencement after  his  decease.  It  is  written  with 
rmich  force  and  beauty — rich  in  its  sentiments,  pure 
and  elegant  in  its  style,  displaying  a  chastened  and 
correct  taste ;  and  free  from  the  inflated  phraseology 
often  found  in  orations  on  similar  occasions.  His 
moral  principles  were  correct ;  those  of  a  political 
nature  were  generally  so  toa  I3ut  in  the  last  years 
of  his  life  he  and  his  friends  diflered  on  some  public 
measures.  They  considered  him  too  much  inclined 
to  innovation  where  no  good  could  be  expected  from  a 
change.  He  would  have  been  one  of  the  last  men  in 
the  State  to  oppose  constitutional  law  or  order.  But 
it  becomes  wise  men  to  consider,  whether  frequent 
changes,  and  the  repeated  yielding  to  the  popular 
voice,  or  the  clamors  of  a  few  who  claim  to  be  the  or- 
gans of  the  people,  is  not  dangerous  to  republicanism, 
and  will  not  soon  lead  to  the  extreme  of  democracy  ; 
when,  not  the  great  body  of  the  people,  but  a  few 
unprincipled  men  will  have  the  power,  and  will  use 
it  for  their  own  aggrandizement. 

ALLERTON,  ISAAC  came  to  America  in  the 
May-flower,  1620,  which  brought  the  first  com- 
pany of  Puritan  worthies,  who  made  a  permanent 
settlement  in  New  England  ;  who  retired  from  their 
native  country  to  Holland  1607-8,  for  the  sake  of 
religion,  and  came  to  this  western  desert  region,  for 
the  same  high  and  holy  purpose.  He  possessed  con- 
siderable estate,  and  was  one  of  the  leading  and  en- 


1 


r<  wi 


ISAAC   ALLERTON. 


i  leges  and 
lad  an  ex- 
d  always 
age.  His 
;  he  had 
id  a  sense 
Vllen  pro- 
Wheelocky 
'  of  corn- 
ten  with 
nts,  pure 
med  and 
raseology 
)ns.     His 

political 
ast  years 
rie  public 

inclined 
ed  from  a 
it  men  in 
er.  But 
frequent 

popular 
e  the  or- 
icanism, 
locracy  ; 
It  a  few 
IV ill  use 


t 


in  the 
com- 
manent 
ni  their 
sake  of 
ion,  for 
jed  con- 
ind  en- 


terprising men  of  the  company.  He  had  a  family 
when  he  came  over;  but  his  wife  did  not  long  sur- 
vive, and  after  her  decease  he  was  married  to  a 
daughter  of  Elder  Brewster.  When  VViliiam  Brad- 
ford was  chosen  Governor,  on  the  premature  death 
of  Carver,  he  requested  an  assistant ;  and  Mr.  Aller- 
ton  was  selected  for  that  purpose.  He  may  well  be 
ranked  with  those  of  the  greate.st  intluence  in  the 
colony  for  several  years.  He  was  one  of  the  six 
who  assumed  the  debts  of  the  company  in  1628, 
and  was  several  times  employed  as  agent  in  Eng- 
land to  transact  important  business  for  the  infant 
colony.  In  1633,  he  fell  under  the  censure  of  the 
company ;  but  not  for  fraud  or  .immorality.  As  he 
was  enterprising,  he  sometimes  made  bad  bargains 
for  the  company,  and  on  more  than  one  occasion 
exceeded  the  authority  and  direction  given  him. 
The  charter  frum  tlie  king  failed  by  his  insisting  on 
a  freedom  from  all  the  British  laws  of  navigation 
and  commerce.  He  engaged  in  the  project  of  making 
a  settlement  on  the  Penobscot  with  others,  when  the 
Governor  of  Plymouth  was  opposed  to  it;  as  they 
then  had  a  large  tract,  for  trade,  on  the  Kennebec 
river.  But  his  greatest  error  perhaps,  was  hit 
employment  of  Thomas  Morton  in  1631-2,  the  very 
turbulent  and  immoral  person  who  was  sometime  at 
the  head  of  the  unruly  company  at  Mount  Wollas- 
ton ,  and  who  had  been  scut  to  England  two  years 
before  as  a  dangerous  man,  and  a  slanderer  of  the 
Plymouth  people.  When  the  agent  of  the  company 
in  England,  Allerton  employed  Morton  as  a  copyist, 
and  on  his  return  brought  him  to  Plymouth.  This 
was  strange  and  highly  injudicious  conduct;  and 
the  Governor  and  principal  men  were  quite  indig- 
nant. After  that  period,  he  was  not  employed  as 
agent,  nor  in  any  public  capacity  for  the  colony.  It 
has  sometimes  been  supposed  that  he  was  treated 
with  imdue  severity.     He  soon  left  Plymouth,  and 


34 


JOHN     ALLIN. 


■**'"'''"^**'**'"<l(( 


resided  sometitne  nt  Marblehead,  but  traded  to  other 
parts  of  New  Kngland,  and  to  the  West  Indies.  A 
tew  years  later,  he  was  a  resident  of  New  Haven,  in 
the  capacity  of  merchant  or  trader,  and  there  also 
he  left  children.  There  is  no  proof  that  he  ever 
forfeited  the  character  of  an  honest  man  and  a 
sincere  christian  :  hut  he  was  fond  of  change  and  of 
roving,  and  rather  unstable  in  judgment,  compared 
to  the  other  leading  men  of  his  day  in  Plymouth 
colony.  He  often  visited  and  sometimes  made  Nan- 
tasket  a  place  of  business  for  a  limited  neriod  :  and 
the  north  cast  point  of  that  neck  of  land  owes  its 
name  to  him.  The  proper  name  is  Allerlon,  and 
not  Alderton.  ' 


: 


ALLIN,  Rev.  JOHN  came  to  Massachusetts  in 
the  year  16.37,  at  the  same  time  Hopkins  and  Eaton 
arrived,  who  settled  in  New  Haven.  Dedham  then 
contained  several  families,  seme  of  them  went  there 
in  1636 — Mr.  All  in  was  setilvd  with  them  soon  after 
he  arrived.  His  character  was  that  of  "  a  humble 
and  heavenly  minded  christian — of  a  very  courteous 
behavior,  full  of  sweet  christian  love  towards  all 
men  ;  and  who  with  meekness  of  spirit  contended  for 
the  faith  and  peace  of  Christ's  churches."  He  op- 
posed the  errors  of  the  Antinomians,  who  were  then 
numerous;  having  fallen  into  that  pernicious  error, 
in  their  desires  to  exalt  the  freeness  and  sovereignty 
of  divine  grace  ;  but  a  tenet  not  unnaturally  de- 
duced from  the  doctrine  of  total  depravity,  and  of  an 
irrespective  decree  as  to  personal  and  individual 
election.  Mr.  Allin  wrote  learnedly  and  ably  on  the 
question,  moved  in  his  day,  and  on  account  of 
which  a  synod  was  held  in  1662,  as  to  whether  the 
children  of  baptised  persons  who  made  a  public  pro- 
fession of  faith  in  Christ  and  in  the  inspiration  of 
the  Scriptures,  and  were  correct  in  their  moral  con- 
duct, should  be  admitted  to  baptism ;  or  denied  that 


JOHN  ALLYN. 


35 


privilege  or  rite,  unless  the  parents  were  members  of 
a  church  in  full  communion.  The  synod  decided  in 
favor  of  the  former;  and  allowed  the  propriety  of 
baptising  the  children  of  persons,  so  professing,  and 
of  sober  life  and  conversation,  though  not  members 
of  the  church  in  the  fullest  sense.  There  was  a 
large  minority  which  dissented  from  this  decision ; 
and  several  of  the  clergy  wrote  against  it,  as  incor- 
rect, and  an  innovation  in  the  church  ;  among  whom 
were  Mr.  Davenport,  President  Chauncy,  and 
Increase  Mather.  The  decision  of  the  synod  was 
supported  and  defended  by  Richard  Mather  of 
Dorchester,  father  of  Increase  Mather,  Rev.  Mr. 
Mitchell  of  Cambridge,  one  of  the  first  scholars  and 
theologians  of  the  day,  and  by  Mr.  AUin  of  Dedham. 
Mr.  Allin  claims  the  opinion  of  the  celebrated  Dr. 
Owen  and  Dr.  Goodwin  of  England  in  favor  of  the 
decision  of  the  synod ;  or  as  agreeable  to  that  de- 
cision. And  he  contended,  that  persons  baptised  in 
youth,  and  who  had  received  a  good  religious  edu- 
cation, and  were  not  immoral,  it  they  publicly  de- 
clared their  faith  in  Christ,  and  requested  baptism 
for  their  children,  could  not  reasonably  nor  according 
to  scripture  be  refused.  The  dispute  engaged  most 
of  the  clergy  of  the  time,  and  many  of  the  laity ; 
and  was  long  agitated  with  no  little  warmth  and 
earnestness.  The  writings  of  Mr.  Allin  on  the  sub- 
ject were  in  a  candid  spirit,  and  affording  evidence 
that  he  sought  to  defend  the  truth,  and  not  to  gain 
the  victory  over  his  opponents.  Mr.  Allin  died  in 
1670,  and  at  an  advanced  age. 

ALLYN,  Rev.  JOHN  D.  D.  was  a  native  of 
Barnstable,  and  received  his  elementary  education 
under  Rev.  Mr.  Hilliard,  the  minister  of  that  town. 
He  then  passed  the  usual  term  of  four  years  in  Har- 
vard College,  and  was  graduated  in  1785.  There 
was  no  theological  school  at  that  time  in  Massacbur- 


liil  ■• 


36 


THOMAS  C.    AMORY. 


1 


•etts ;  and  the  theological  professor  in  the  iiniver- 
sity  was  in.  feeble  health,  and  unable  to  give  much 
instruction  to  those  who  chose  to  study  divinity  the 
last  year.     Mr.  Allyn  spent  some  time  in  1786  and 
'87   with  the  learned  Dr.  Samuel   West  of  Dart- 
mouth ;  and  under  the  instructions  of  that  learned 
theologian,  his  mind  received  a  bias,  which  led  him 
to  an  independent  course  of  inquiry  and  research  in 
his  profession.     He  was  a  diligent  and  honest  en- 
quirer after  truth;,  and  tolerant  and  candid  towards 
such  as  differed  from  him  in  their  religious  senti- 
ments.   Dr.  Allyn  was  an  argumentative,  scriptural, 
and  practical  preacher.     His  object  was  to  enlighten 
as  well  as  to  impress.     He  devoted  a  good  portion  of 
hi^  time  to  the  religious  instruction  of  children  ;  often 
gave  them  books,  calculated  to  inform  and  influence 
them ;  such    as  they  could    understand ;  and    not 
those  filled  with   speculative  and  disputed  points  of 
scolastic  divinity,  asserted  and  taught  in  books  of 
systematic  theology.     The  young  profited  much  by 
his  instructions ;  and  grew  up  intelligent  believers. 
The  last  years  of  his  life,  Dr.  Allyn  was  in  very 
feeble  health,  and  manifested  the  systems  of  old  age 
at  sixty.     He  died  in  1831  at  the  age  of  sixty-four. 
Several  sermons  delivered  by  him  on  particular  occa- 
•ions  were  published  :  one  on  the  day  of  general 
election,  one  at  the  Dudleian  lecture  in  Harvard  Col- 
lege, one  at  the  Derby  Academy  in  Hingham,  an  ordi- 
nation sermon  ;  and  one  on  the  anniversary  of  the 
settlement  of  Plymouth.  •  '•    ' 

AMORY,  THOMAS  C.  was  a  citizen  of  Boston, 
and  educated  for  the  profession  and  business  of  a 
merchant.  His  father  and  others  of  the  name  were 
merchants  of  high  standing  and  extensive  business. 
And  it  is  no  small  praise  to  say  of  any  one,  of  whom 
it  may  be  said  wiih  truth,  that  he  was  one  of  the  first 
class  of  merchants  in  that  place.     For  several  gen- 


I 


JESSE   APPLETON. 


37 


am,  an  ordi- 


i 


I 


erationn,  the  Boston  merchants  have  been  of  high 
and  honorable  characters.  They  wore  industrious, 
enterprising,  and  honest  in  their  deuhngs.  They 
have,  made  money,  but  most  of  them  made  it  honest- 
ly. Their  style  of  living  was  not  so  expensive  and 
extravagant  as  at  present ;  but  there  was  convenience, 
comfort  and  competency  in  their  dwellings,  at  the 
social  board,  and  in  their  general  manner  of  living. 
Thomas  C.  Amory  ranked  among  the  most  honorable 
merchants  in  boston  thirty  years  ago.  He  died  in 
1812,  at  the  age  forty-live.  There  were,  indeed, 
many  others,  who  were  highly  esteemed  for  their 
probity  and  lair  dealing;  and  who  at  the^ame  time 
gradually  accumulated  large  estates.  Mr.  Amory 
was  particularly  beloved  by  his  intimate  acquaint- 
ances, for  his  upright  and  benevolent  conduct,  and 
for  the  manifbstation  of  the  social  allections.  He 
died  in  the  career  of  successful  business,  and  sur- 
rounded by  the  endearments  of  family  connections. 
Jonathan  Amory  was  a  younger  brother  of  the 
former,  and  had  a  degree  in  Harvard  College  in  1787. 
He  engaged  in  moi  uitilc  pursuits  ;  and  was  greatly 
esteemed  for  probity  and  fair  dealing,  for  benevo- 
lent and  honorable  feelings. 

APPLETON  Rev.  JESSE  D.  D.  received  his 
public  eduead  m  in  Dartmouih  College,  where  he 
was  gradnatt-d  in  1792,  with  the  reputation  of  a 
good  schol  ,  and  a  discreet  well  principled  man. 
He  ma^^  ice  of  the  clerical  profession,  and  re- 

ceived "(I  .ition  as  the  pastor  of  the  first  church 
and  soc  /  in  Hampton,  State  of  New  Hampshire* 
Rev.  Ebenezer  Thayer,  was  his  predecessor  as  min- 
ister of  the  same  religious  society.  The  reputation 
of  Mr.  Appleton,  as  a  scholar,  a  theologian  and  a 
preacher,  steadily  increased;  and  in  18U8,  he  was 
elected  President  of  Bowdpin  College ;  soon  after  the 


JESSE  APPLBTON. 


death  of  Rev.  Dr.  M'Keen,  the  first  President  of 
that  seminary.  Dr.  M'Keen  was  a  man  of  learning, 
and  of  popular  talents,  and  in  his  deportment  also, 
he  was  mild  and  conciliating.  It  was  therefore  im- 
portant to  have  his  successor  possess  these  solid  and 
estimable  qualities.  It  soon  became  evident,  that 
the  overseers  and  trustees  of  the  institution  had 
made  a  happy  choice.  Dr.  Appleton  was  faithful, 
and  sometimes  was  thought  to  be  too  stern  and 
strict  in  his  discipline  of  thi  pupils ;  but  he  retained 
his  popularity ;  for  he  was  believed  to  aim  only  at 
the  improvement,  and  benefit  of  those  under  his  care. 
He  was  in  every  way  qualified  for  the  important 
station.  The  number  of  students  increased  during 
his  presidency,  and  the  reputation  of  the  institution, 
given  it  by  his  learned  predecessor,  sufiered  in  no  de- 
gree, while  he  presided  over  it.  He  was  a  hard 
student  ever  after  he  undertook  the  office  of  Presi- 
dent ;  and  during  his  continuance  in  that  station  his 
reputation  for  solid  learning  was  much  increased. 
He  reviewed  his  knowledge  of  the  ancient  languages, 
and  became  conversant  with  the  best  writers  on 
theological  and  ethical  subjects.  In  mental  philoso- 
phy, he  was  surpassed  by  very  few.  He  was 
a  close  thinker ;  and  his  writings  show  that  his 
reading  was  attended  by  deep  reflection.  He  wrote 
on  no  subject  without  careful  study,  and  viewing  it 
in  all  its  aspects  ;  and  his  opinions  were  not  hastily 
or  inconsiderately  formed.  As  a  preacher  he  was 
very  impressive ;  he  said  nothing  to  amuse,  or  to 
startle  by  its  novelty.  But  he  spake  as  a  mortal 
man  to  dying  men.  His  chief  aim  was  to  inform 
the  mind  and  to  sanctify  the  heart.  Dr.  Appleton 
died  in  1819,  aged  forty-seven.  Of  his  writings, 
given  to  the  public  through  the  press,  the  principal 
are  ordination  sermons,  and  addresses  to  the  gradu- 
ates onUhe  day  of  commencement. 


■1 
•i 


NATHANIEL   APPLETON. 


use,  or  to 


APPLETON,  Rev.  NATHANIEL  D.  D.  had  a 

long  and  useful  ministry  in  the  first  society  in  Cam- 
bridge. His  parents  were  inhabitants  of  Ipswich, 
and  his  ancestors  of  several  generations  resided  in 
that  ancient  town.  He  received  his  first  degree  in 
Harvard  College,  1712 ;  and  had  the  reputation  of 
a  good  scholar  while  a  member  of  that  seminary. 
He  was  early  called  to  be  the  pastor  of  the  first 
church  in  Cambridge,  where  an  able  and  learned 
theologian  was  sought  for,  as  the  members  of  the 
University  there  attended  religious  instruction  and 
worship.  Mr.  Appleton  was  the  second  person  who 
received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  the 
University.;  Rev.  Increase  Mather  being  the  first. 
Doctor  Appleton  ranked  among  the  most  popular 
preachers  of  his  time.  He  was  plain  and  practical 
in  his  discourses  from  the  pulpit — sometimes  homely 
and  quaint  in  his  style,  which  would  not  be  accept- 
alple  or  proper  at  the  present  day.  He  had  the  repu- 
tation of  a  Calvinist;  but  if  he  inclined  to  that 
particular  system  of  faith,-  he  did  not  dwell  on  its 
peculiar  doctrines,  nor  consider  it  essential  to  adopt 
them.  He  was  considered  liberal  in  his  views ;  and 
often  assisted  in  the  ordination  of  those  who  were 
known  to  be  opposed  to  the  Calvinistic  system.  It 
was  his  endeavor  rather  to  reconcile  ministers  of 
different  theological  sentiments  to  each  other,  than 
to  cherish  or  promote  disputes  on  speculative  points 
of  religion.  In  the  latter  part  of  his  life,  he  was 
often  the  moderator  of  councils  for  the  ordination  of 
ministers ;  and  always  used  his  influence  for  harmo- 
ny in  their  debates  and  union  in  their  decisions.  He 
lived  to  a  great  age,  being  nearly  ninety  at  his 
decease.  His  people  had  a  great  regard  and  respect 
for  his  character.  He  was  a  peace-maker  among 
them,  and  took  a  deep  interest  both  in  their  temporal 
and  spiritual  welfare.    If  "he  magnified  his  office," 


ELI  PORTER  A^RMtTN. 


i     II 


I 


it  was  by  fidelity  and  kindness  and  benevolence, 
rather  than  by  a  dogmatical  or  severe  deportnnent. 
He  continued  to  preach  until  he  was  about  ninety 
years  of  age ;  and  seemed  desirous  of  being  useful 
to  his  people  to  the  last.  Nathaniel  Appleton,  his 
son,  was  a  respectable  merchant  in  Boston,  and  a 
man  of  letters — a  graduate  of  Harvard  College  in 
1749.  And  his  grandson,  Nathaniel  W.  Appleton, 
M.  D.  was  a  very  skilful  physician  and  an  amiable 
man,  much  beloved  by  his  acquaintance  and  towns- 
men. He  too  was  a  literary  character  :  his  studies 
were  not  confined  to  his  profession.  He  had  a  de- 
gree in  H.  C.  1774 — and  died  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
five.  ■-.  '■  '  '■  '■■■-•   ■ 

ASHMUN,  Hon.  ELI  PORTER  an  alumnus  of 
Yale  College,  received  an  honorary  degree  from 
Harvard  University  in  1809.  He  was  a  distinguish- 
ed attorney  and  counsellor  of  law,  at  NorthamptSn, 
in  the  County  of  Hampshire.  He  was  several  times 
elected  a  member  of  the  Senate  of  Massachusetts, 
and  afterwards  received  the  appointment  of  Senator 
in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States.  In  all  these 
stations,  he  exhibited  superior  talents  and  intelli- 
gence, fitting  him  for  an  able  legislator.  His  excel- 
lent moral  qualities  rendered  him  highly  estimable 
among  his  acquaintance  and  neighbors,  and  without 
these  the  character  of  the  most  talented  and  learned 
man  is  essentially  defective.  The  conduct  of  Mr. 
Ashmnn  was  without  reproach ;  and  might  be  safely 
proposed,  as  an  example  to  all  men.  Of  some  pub- 
lic characters,  who  are  distinguished  for  their  mental 
powers  and  for  eloquence,  we  may  not  speak  with 
commendation  ;n  a  moral  view ;  and  their  example 
affords  ro  apology  for  dishonesty  and  licentiousness. 
But  in  this  country,  happily  such  instances  are  not 
common.     Most  of  the  politicians  of  ihis  ;ind  of  the 


-Win 


WILLIAM   ASPINWALL. 


nevolencc, 
pportment. 
nit  ninety 
ing  useful 
pleton,  his 
on,  and  a 
College  in 

Appleton, 
.11  amiable 
nd  towns- 
lis  studies 
had  a  de- 

of  thirty- 


lumnus  of 
'gree  from 
istinguish- 
rthaniptSn, 
veral  times 
sachusetts, 
of  Senator 
I  all  these 
nd  intelli- 
His  excel- 
estimable 
id  without 
nd  learned 
ict  of  Mr. 
t  be  safely 
some  pub- 
leir  mental 
)eak  with 
example 
itiousness. 
Bs  are  not 
).nd  of  the 


last  generations  may  be  justly  honored,  as  well  for 
their  exemplary  moral  conduct,  as  for  their  brilliant 
talents.  '  ly 


"-^m 


ASPINWALL,  Dr.  WILLIAM  was  a  graduate 
of  Harvard  College  in  the  year  1764.  He  studied 
medicine  sometime  with  Dr.  Benjamin  Gale,  an  emi- 
nent physician  of  the  State  of  Connecticut ;  and  then 
at  the  Hospital  in  Philadelphia,  then  the  best  medical 
school  in  America.  Dr.  Aspinwall  settled  in  Brook- 
lino,  Massachusetts ;  and  there  had  an  extensive 
practice  several  years.  He  possessed  a  strong  and 
active  mind  ;  and  held  a  high  place  in  the  estimation 
of  his  professional  brethren.  He  was  early  a  mem- 
ber and  counsellor  of  the  Massachusetts  Medical 
Society ;  and  received  the  degree  of  M.  D.  from  Har- 
vard University.  In  his  time  and  since,  a  better" 
education,  and  longer  preparation  for  the  practice  of 
physic  have  been  required ;  and  the  character  of  a 
physician  has  become  more  respectable  and  elevated. 
The  physical  nature  of  man  is  better  understood  ; 
and  discoveries  in  chemistry  have  served  to  extend 
the  knowledge  of  the  property  and  effects  of  sub- 
stances used  as  remedies  in  most  diseases.  It  is 
true  that  doctors  still  sometimes  disagree,  as  to  the 
immediate  causes  and  the  remedies  of  some-  dis- 
orders ;  but  not  more,  perhaps,  than  learned  men  of 
the  legal  profession,  or  than  those  who  have  made 
general  philosophy  their  study.  Dr.  Aspinwall  was 
a  decided  friend  to  the  cause  of  civil  liberty,  at  the 
memorable  period  of  1775.  He  was  a  sincere  re- 
pu!>ilcan,  and  in  favor  of  a  representative  democracy. 
He  was  personally  engaged  with  the  militia  who 
turned  out  and  resisted  the  British  troops  at  Lexing- 
ton and  Concord  on  the  nineteenth  of  April  1775. 
In  that  year,  he  was  appointed  hospital  surgeon,  at 
Jamaica  Plains,  Roxbury.  He  intended  to  apply 
4* 


42 


WILLIAM  K.  ATKINSON. 


I  ^il 


for  an  office  in  the  line,  but  Dr.  Warren  dissuaded 
him  from  it.  He  was  afterwards  in  the  public  ser- 
vice in  the  civil  department,  as  Representative, 
Senator,  and  Counsellor. 

Dr.  Aspinwall  had  extensive  practice  in  the 
disease  of  the  small  pox,  in  1^88,  and  at  other  times 
when  it  prevailed ;  and  with  uncommon  success. 
Dr.  Aspinwall  was  a  professor  of  religion  ;  ?»nd  gave 
satisfactory  evidence  by  his  life  and  conversation, 
that  his  faith  was  genuine  and  inwrought.  He  was 
nearly  blind  for  several  years;  but  he  bore  this 
"  physical  darkness  with  resignation  and  tranquilli- 
ty."    He  died  in  1823,  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine. 

ATKINSON,  Hon.  WH.LIAM  KING  was  a 
native  of  Portsmouth,  in  the  State  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  received  his  public  education  in  Harvard 
College,  with  the  class  of  1783.  When  at  the  Uni- 
versity, his  surname  was  King ;  but  was  afterwards 
changed,  for  respect  and  relationship  to  Judge  At- 
kinson. Mr.  Atkinson  studied  law,  and  entered  on 
the  practice  in  Dover,  in  New  Hampshire,  where  he 
soon  acquired  a  high  reputation  as  a  lawyer  and  ad- 
vocate. At  that  period  there  were  few  regular  attor- 
neys in  the  County  of  Stafford.  In  1773  John 
Sullivan  was  the  only  one.  But  after  the  war  of 
the  Revolution  they  gradually  increased, — and  now 
the  number  is  about  forty.  Mr.  Atkinson  held  the 
office  of  Register  of  Probate  many  years  ;  and  other 
important  offices  part  of  the  same  time.  He  was 
Attorney  General,  and  then  a  Justice  of  t1ie  Superior 
Court  in  New  Hampshire  ;  which  shew  his  high 
character  for  talents  and  his  moral  worth.  He  died 
in  1820,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six.  There  were  three 
gentlemen  of  the  name  of  Theodore  Atkinson,  who 
held  public  offices  in  New  Hampshire.  The  second 
was  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College,  in  1718;  and 


■: 


J.    I.    AUSTIN— J.    W.    AUSTITT. 


lissuaded 
iblic  ser- 
lentati^e, 

B  in  the 
lier  times 

success. 
r»nd  gave 
ersation, 

He  was 
bore  this 
ranquilli- 
y-nine. 

was  a 
f  Hamp- 
Harvard 
the  Uni- 
fterwards 
adge  At- 
itcred  on 
where  he 
r  and  ad- 
lar  attor- 
73  John 
J  war  of 
and  now 
held  the 
eind  other 

He  was 
Superior 
his  high 

He  died 
ire  three 
jon,  who 
e  second 
riS;  and 


was  Chief  Justice  of  that  State.  The  other,  his  son, 
had  a  degree  there  in  1757 — died  in  1769,  at  the 
age  of  thirty-three.  The  oldest  was  a  counsellor  in 
1715,  dw:.  The  second  and  third  were  each  Secre- 
tary of  the  Province.  The  second  was  judge  of  the 
Superior  court,  after  the  death  of  his  son  in  1769! 
He  was  also  colonel  of  the  militia  and  sheriff. 
Father  and  son  both  held  the  offices  of  Secre- 
tary of  the  Province,  and  of  Chief  Justice  of  the 
Supreme  Court ;  and  both  were  educated  in  Har- 
vard College ;  the  oldest  in  1718,  and  the  other  in 
1757. 

AUSTIN,  JONATHAN  LORING  who  was  a 
native  of  Boston,  and  who  was  graduated  in  Har- 
vard College  in  1706,  ranked  among  the  ardent 
patriots  of  the  Revolution  of  1775.  He  went  to 
France  as  a  public  agent,  during  the  war,  to  obtain 
supplies  of  clothing,  &c.  for  the  American  army. 
At  a  later  period,  he  was  both  Treasurer  and  Secre- 
tary of  the  Commonwealth,  and  was  esteemed  an 
attentive  and  faithful  officer,  in  each  of  those  situa- 
tions. Mr.  Austin  held  various  responsible  offices 
in  his  native  town  ;  and  shared  largely  in  the  con- 
fidence ol  his  fellow  citizens.  His  father,  Hon. 
Benjamin  Austin,  was  much  in  public  life,  and  a 
&rm  patriot;  and  often  and  justly  too,  the  children 
claim  distinction  and  an  influence  from  the  good 
character  of  their  parents. 

AUSTIN,  JONA.  WILLIAMS  was  a  brother 
of  the  above,  and  received  his  degree  in  Harvard 
College  in  1769.  He  studied  law  and  came  to  the 
bar  with  the  reputation  of  an  eloquent  speaker. 
His  compositions  were  also  correct  and  elegant. 
The  controversy  with  England  was  then  the  all-ab- 
sorbing subject ;  the  citizens  generally  took  a  deep 


< 


44 


JONATHAN   W.   AUSTIN. 


interest  in  the  dispute.  And  most  of  the  literary 
men  of  that  period  were  patriots,  and  advocates  for 
colonial  rights.  Mr.  Austin  was  a  member  of  the 
convention  in  Middlesex  county,  September  1774; 
and  was  chairman  of  the  committee  appointed  to 
prepare  resolutions  to  be  adopted  by  the  convention. 
Pew,  if  any  surpassed  Mr.  Austin  in  his  ardor  and 
devotion  to  the  cause  of  civil  liberty.  He  delivered 
the  oration  before  the  citizens  of  Boston  on  the  fifth 
of  March  1778,  the  anniversary  of  the  massacre  in 
that  town  in  1770.  He  had  a  commission  in  the 
army  as  Colonel, — and  died  in  one  of  the  Southern 
States  in  the  summer  of  1778. 


>:.  wife    • 


^tf  r;: 


■-•:t;'-' •■>.;..:  \    :5 


■'■-    t\ 


viiv; 


.i5^o>5 »"«,/.;;  t     m. 


;:'l;iy  ,.if*  v  -i-nr.  ';; 


■..•*.    :•.'-'-•;** 


■;>J:  .-,^!:'v  y '!>;'-.,;    ■i,i.,J:fe'-i;'^  ■  ;^.«- -^  5;'". 


.:^v. 


e  literary 
ocates  for 
er  of  the 
ber  1774; 
>ointed  to 
tnvention. 
irdor  and 
delivered 
I  the  fifth 
issacre  in 
>n  in  the 
Southern 


CHAPTER  II. 


B 


BACHUS,  Rev.  CHARLES  D  D.  was  a  native 
of  Norwich  in  the  Statoof  Connecticut,  and  received 
his  public  erlucatipn  in  Yale  College  with  the  class 
of  1769.  He  studied  divinity,  and  was  settled  over 
the  Congregational  Church  and  Society  in  Somers, 
in  1774.  The  parents  of  Mr.  Bachns  died  when  he 
was  a  child;  and  he  was  obligated  to  some  of  his 
relations  for  the  privilege  of  a  public  education. 
He  early  discovered  a  love  of  learning,  and  was  a 
diligent  student  while  a  member  of  the  college.  He 
afterwards  became  distinguished  as  a  theologian  and 
a  logician.  He  belonged  to  the  Calvinistic  school  of 
divinity ;  a  school,  in  which  it  is  deemed  important 
to  be  logicians  and  metaphysicians.  The  peculiar 
tenets  ot  ih?.t  system  require  the  aid  of  metaphysi- 
cal redsoi.jngs  for  their  elucidation  and  support. 
Dr.  Bachus  was  an  eloquent  and  impressive  preach- 
er. His  fame,  as  a  divine  and  a  pulpit  orator  was 
very  great,  and  many  graduates  of  Yale  College 
were  prepared  for  the  Christian  ministry  under  his 
instructions.  Several  of  them  were  eminent  minis- 
ters in  the  churches  in  the  States  of  Connecticut  and 
Massachusetts.  Several  of  his  ordination  sermons 
were  published  ;  and  one  delivered  at  Hartford,  on 
the  general  election.  He  died  under  the  age  of 
fifty. 

BACHUS,  Rev.  ISAAC  several  years  the  pastor 
of  a  Baptist  Society  in  Middleborough  in  the  State 


46 


STEPHEN    BADGER. 


.1  '^. 


of  Massachusetts,  was  a  native  of  Norwich.  He 
had  a  good  education,  but  not  collegiate ;  he  possessed 
a  strong  mind,  and  retentive  memory ;  and  at  an 
early  age  manifested  a  great  fondness  for  reading, 
particularly  religious  books.  He  chose  the  miniS' 
terial  profession,  and  was  first  ordained  over  a  Con- 
gregational church  and  society  in  Middleborough  in 
1748.  About  this  time,  there  was  a  great  religious 
excitement  in  the  country,  and  questions  of  various 
kinds  arose  and  were  discussed.  That  relating  to 
the  subject  and  mode  of  baptism,  among  others. 
Mr.  Bachus  and  some  of  his  people  declared  them- 
selves in  favor  of  immersion  as  the  mode,  and  of 
adults  as  the  only  proper  subjects.  The  direct  and 
immediate  cause  of  the  formation  of  this  Baptist 
SociiBty  was  the  imposition  of  a  tax  on  the  members 
of  Mr.  Bachus'  church  and  congregation,  for  re- 
building or  repairing  the  house  of  worship  of  the 
first  society.  The  majority  of  Mr.  Bachus'  society 
opposed  this,  and  formed  a  Baptist  church.  Mr. 
Bachus  joined  them,  and  ever  after  complained  of 
the  practice  of  taxing  people  for  the  support  of  the 
gospel.  He  wrote  an  ecclesiastical  history  of  New 
England,  which  contains  many  important  facts,  and 
is  generally  correct  as  to  dates ;  but  one  cannot  safe- 
ly depend  on  his  opinions,  or  his  statements,  where 
there  is  any  reference  to  disputes  between  the  Bap- 
tists and  others.  He  discovers  strong  prejudices ; 
though  he  did  not  designedly  misrepresent.  He 
lived  to  an  advanced  age,  and  died  in  the  ministry 
at  Middleborough. 

BADC4ER,  Rev.  STEPHEJN  was  graduated  at 
Harvard  College  in  the  year  1761 ;  and  in  about 
three  years  after  received  ordination  to  the  pastoral 
office  over  the  Church  and  society  in  Natick.  There 
were  then  some  of  the  aboriginal  Indians  of  Massa- 
chusetts ;  but  they  were  few,  compared  to  the  num- 


'^ich.     He 
possessed 
nd  at  an 
reading, 
he  minis- 
er  a  Con- 
aroiigh  in 
religious 
>f  various 
slating  to 
ig  others, 
red  them- 
S   and   of 
irect  and 
s   Baptist 
members 
I,   for  re- 
ip  of  the 
s'  society 
rch.     Mr. 
►lained  of 
•rt  of  the 
of  New- 
facts,  and 
mot  safe- 
where 
the  Bap- 
QJu  dices ; 
:nt.      He 
ministry 


iiated  at 
n  about 

pastoral 
There 

Massa- 
16  num- 


LOAMMI  BALDWIN. 


47 


ber  a  century  before,   when  the  apostolical  Eliot 
preached  to  them.    None  now  (1842)  remain  in  that 
place  or  vicinity.    The  few  at  Marshpee,  and  on 
Martha's  Vineyard,  are  the  only  ones  who  survive 
to  the  present  day.     Mr.  Badger  had  the  character 
of  a  good  scholar,   and   an   able   theologian.     His 
printed  sermons  indicate  that  he  was  argumentative 
in  his  compositions  for  the  pulpit,   and   addressed 
men  as  rational  beings,  with  a  natural  capacity  for 
religion.     He  was  considered  liberal  in  his  theologi- 
cal views  by  his  contemporaries  ;  but  not  so  catholic 
as  to  think  it  of  no  importance  what  sentiments  one 
imbibed  or  professed.     Many  of  the  clergy  of  the 
last  generation  adopted  a   more  mild  and  liberal 
theology  than  their  predecessors  had  adopted ;  but 
holding  to  the  doctrines  according  to  godliness,  and 
to  what  may  justly   be  called  evangelical   truths. 
They  were  willing  men  should  form  their  opinions 
from  the  Scriptures,  rather  than  adopt  a  system  of 
human  formation,  because  it  had  been  received  for 
two  hundred  years.     Mr.  Badger   may  be  classed 
with  those  of  this  liberal  party.     His  object  was  to 
make  men  intelligent  as  well  as  apparently  zealous 
Christians ;  that  they  might  perceive  their  obhga- 
tions  to  piety   and  virtue,   and  be  able  to  give   a 
reason  for  their  religious  faith  and  hope. 

BALDWIN,  Col.  LOAMMI  wa?  a  citizen  of 
Woburn,  and  distinguished  at  an  early  age,  by  a  de- 
sire for  knowledge  and  improvement.  After  a  good 
common  school  education,  he  gave  his  leisure  hours 
to  the  study  of  mathematics  and  natural  philosophy  ; 
and  for  this  purpose  spent  some  time  in  attending 
the  lectures  of  Professor  Winthrop  in  Harvard  Col- 
lege. Benjamin  Thompson,  afterwards  Count  Rum- 
ford,  was  his  fellow  student  in  their  youth.  Mr. 
Baldwin  was  a  practical  surveyor,  and  performed 
service  as  an  engineer.    When  the  war  with  Eng- 


f 


i 

i   ) 


f. 


I  i 


IB  THOMAS   BALDWIN. 

land  was  apprehended,  in  consequence  of  its  arbi- 
trary and  oppressive  measures,  from  1705  to  1776, 
and  it  was  concluded  by  the  friends  of  civil  liberty 
in  the  Province,  to  defend  their  rights,  Mr.  Baldwin 
ranked  among  the  zealous  and  active  whigs  of  that 
memorable  period.  He  was  a  member  of  the  County 
convention  in  Middlesex,  held  in  August  1774, 
and  soon  after  entered  the  military  department ;  be» 
ing  appointed  a    Lieutenant   Colonel   in  one  of  the 

Jrovincial  regiments  raised  in  May,  in  1776.  In 
une  1775,  he  was  appointed  by  (General  Ward  to 
take  surveys  of  the  ground  between  the  Massachu- 
eetts  army,  and  the  posts  of  the  British  troops.  But 
he  did  not  continue  in  the  army  through  the  war. 
Colonel  Baldwin  was  fourteen  years  Sheriff  of  the 
County  of  Middlesex  from  1780 — and  always  had 
the  character  of  an  intelligent  and  faithful  oificer. 
He  was  one  of  the  principal  projectors  of  the  Mid- 
dlesex canal,  the  first  made  in  this  part  of  the 
country  ;  and  he  was  employed  as  the  surveyor  and 
engineer.  Coiunel  Baldwin  resigned  the  office  of 
Sheriff  in  1794,  on  being  appointed  superintendent 
of  Middlesex  canal — ?.nd  in  the  oversight  and  di- 
rection of  that  work  he  spent  about  ten  years.  The 
canal  was  opened  in  1804.  He  received  an  honor- 
ary degree  of  Master  of  Arts  from  Harvard  College; 
and  was  also  a  member  of  of  the  American  Acade- 
my of  Arts  and  Sciences.  Colonel  Baldwin  possess- 
ed kind  and  social  feelings  ;  and  was  highly  esteemed 
in  the  community.  He  died  in  1807  at  the  age  of 
aixty-three.  Honorable  Loammi  Baldwin  late  of 
Charlestown,  a  very  distinguished  engineer,  and 
often  employed  by  the  general  government  in  con- 
•«tructing  public  works,  was  his  son.  He  died  in 
1838,  aged  fifty-eight. 

BALDWIN,  Rev.  THOMAS    D.  D.  was  many 
years  the  minister  of  the  Second  Baptist  Church  in 


i 


ADAMS    BAILEY. 


its  arbi- 
to  1776, 
1  liberty 
Baldwin 

I  of  that 
B  County 
8t  1774, 
jent ;  be- 
le  of  the 
775.  In 
Ward  to 
lassachu- 
tps.  But 
the  war. 
iff  of  the 
^nys  had 

I I  officer, 
the  Mid- 
rt  of  the 
,'eyor  and 

office  of 
intendent 
;  and  di- 
irs.  The 
m  honor- 
1  College ; 
n  Acade- 
n  possess- 
■  esteemed 
le  age  of 
n  late  of 
ineer,  and 
it  in  con- 
e  died  in 


laa  many 
;hurch  in 


Boston.  He  was  installed  as  pastor  of  that  church 
in  1790 :  he  had  then  been  a  preacher  some  years, 
in  another  part  of  the  State.  His  early  education 
was  quite  limited;  but  he  read  a  good  deal  after  he 
settled  in  Boston  ;  and  associated  with  men  of  learn- 
ing, by  whose  company  and  conver&tation  he  profited 
much.  When  he  began  to  preach,  learning  was  not 
deemed  so  very  important  in  a  preacher  of  the  gos- 
pel, by  the  Baptists,  as  it  now  is.  Dr.  Baldwin  be- 
came more  candid  in  his  opinions  of  other  sects : 
and  as  he  was  a  good  man,  he  loved  all  good  men, 
though  they  might  not  have .  the  same  theological 
views  as  those  which  he  entertained.  He  never  ac- 
quired a  very  polished  style  of  writing,  but  his 
compositions  were  correct  and  sententious.  He  had 
a  large  society,  and  was  an  instrument  of  imparting 
religious  knowledge  and  edification  to  many.  He 
was  rcjtuted  a  devoted  and  faithful  minister  of  the 
gospel.  He  published  several  sermons,  delivered  on 
public  occasions ;  which  prove  him  to  have  been  a 
man  of  thought  and  observation.  He  belonged  to 
several  religious  and  benevolent  societies,  and  took 
pleasure  in  ministering  to  the  spiritual  improvement 
of  his  fellow  man.  Dr.  Baldwin  died  in  1827,  at 
about  the  age  of  severity. 

BAILEY,  Capt.  ADAMS  was  an  inhabitant  of 
Scituate,  Massachusetts ;  and  early  engaged  in  the 
contest  for  civil  liberty,  in  1775.  He  was  an  intelli- 
gent man,  and  thorouglil^  informed  himself  respect- 
ing any  subject  of  a  public  nature  in  dispute.  He 
did  not  follow  the  dictation  or  opinions  of  others, 
without  first  being  satisfied  they  required  what  was 
lawful  and  right.  He  had  not  a  party  spirit,  though 
in  determining  on  his  course,  he  might  prefer  the 
policy  or  measures  of  one  party  in  the  country  to 
another.  He  possessed  an  active  mind,  and  was 
better  informed,  through  bis  own  taste  and  diligence. 


60 


JOHN  BAILIT. 


I    t 


than  most  men  of  his  standing  in  society.  The  man 
of  a  common  education,  who  devotes  his  leisure 
hours  to  reading  and  acquires  a  large  stock  of  useful 
learning,  is  justly  entitled  to  more  credit,  than  those 
who  have  enjoyed  the  means  of  a  more  liberal  edu- 
cation. Captain  Bailey  lived  to  an  advanced  age,  and 
was  much  respected  by  all  who  knew  his  real  worth. 

BAILEY,  Colonel  JOHN  was  a  citizen  of  Han- 
over in  Plymouth  County,  and  a  Lieutenant  Colonel 
of  the  regiment  commanded  by  Colonel  John 
Thomas  of  Kingston,  which  marched  to  Roxbury  in 
April  1775 :  and  when  Colonel  Thomas  was  com- 
missioned as  a  General  officer  in  May,  Mr.  Bailey 
had  the  command  of  the  regiment.  The  next  year, 
he  was  appointed  the  chief  Colonel  of  a  regiment  on 
the  Continental  establishment;  and  continued  of 
that  rank  during  the  war.  He  had  the  reputation 
of  a  brave  and  attentive  officer.  He  survived  the 
war  but  a  few  years ;  and  resided  on  his  farm  in 
Hanover.  The  following  persons  commanded  regu- 
lar regiments  of  the  Continental  army  in  the  war  of 
the  Revolution,  and  in  the  Massachusetts  line. — 
Joseph  Vose,  John  Bailey,  John  Greaton,  William 
Shepard,  Benjamin  Tupper,  Rufus  Putnam,  Eben- 
ezer  Francis,  Michael  Jackson,  (Lieutenant  Colonel 
John  Brooks  was  commandant  of  the  regiment  most 
of  the  war,  as  Colonel  Jackson  was  in  poor  health,) 
Ichabod  Alden,  Gamaliel  Bradford,  Ebenener  Smith, 
Ebenezer  Sprout,  as  commandant,  John  Patterson, 
James  Wesson,  Timothy  Bigelow,  Thomas  Nixon, 
Henry  Jackson,  David  Brewer,  (a  part  of  the  war,) 
David  Cobb  and  Paul  Revere  were  Lieutenant  Col- 
onels commandants.  John  Crane,  Colonel  of  a  reg- 
iment of  Artillery ;  Revere  was  also  of  the  line  of 
artillery.  John  Nixon,  Ebenezer  Learned,  John 
Patterson,  John  Greaton  and  J.  Glover  were  Briga- 
dier Generals.    Artemas  Ward,  Benjamin  Lincoln, 


(    i 


JOHN   BAILEY. 


6i 


lie  man 
leisure 
f  useful 
in  those 
al  edu- 
ftge,  and 
1  worth. 


[)f  Han- 
Colonel 
1  John 
cbury  in 
as  com- 
Bailey 
IX  t  year, 
iment  on 
nued  of 
putation 
ived  the 
farm  in 
led  regu- 
e  war  of 
s  line. — 
William 
1,  Eben- 
t  Colonel 
ent  most 
health,) 
)r  Smith, 
'atterson, 
i  Nixon, 
he  war,) 
ant  Col- 
of  a  reg- 
e  line  of 
sd,  John 
e  Briga- 
Lincoln, 


William  Heath  and  Henrv  Knox  were  Major  Gener- 
als— the  latter  jftt  the  head  of  the  artillery  line.  Some 
others  were  Colonels  in  1775,  but  did  not  serve  on 
the  Continental  establishment  through  the  war. — 
Frye,  Little,  Gerrish,  Prescott,  Scammons,  Whit- 
comb,  J.  Brewer.  Timothy  Pickerint^  was  Quarter 
Master  General,  and  at  one  period  Adjutant  General. 

Rev.   Enos  Hitchcock,  Joel    Barlow,  Evans, 

Rockwell  were  chaplains  of  regiments  in  the 

Massachusetts  line. 

BAILEY,  Rev.  JOHN  was  pastor  of  the  Church 
in  Boston  from  1684  to  1697,  and  had  the  character 
of  a  learned,  zealous  and  orthodox  minister.  He 
came  to  Massachusetts  in  1683,  at  the  age  of  forty ; 
after  having  been  severely  oppressed  and  persecuted 
for  his  non-conformity  many  years  in  England.  He 
preached  sometime  at  Limerick  in  Ireland  before  he 
came  to  America  ;  and  often  travelled  a  great  distance 
to  attend  religious  meetings  held  in  private  houses. 
He  had  great  zeal  as  a  Christian  minister ;  but 
it  was  not  without  knowledge  and  a  good  degree  of 
prudence.  He  suffered  imprisonment  for  his  non- 
conformity ;  and  he  was  offered  a  deanery,  if  he 
would  conform  to  the  rites  and  forms  and  tenets  of 
the  Episcopal  church ;  but  he  could  not  accept  it  on 
such  conditions,  for  he  deemed  them  unscriptural, 
and  therefore  improper.  When  before  the  judges  to 
answer  his  accusers  for  non-conformity,  he  said; 
"  if  1  had  been  drinking  and  gaming,  or  carousing 
at  a  tavern,  as  do  some  ministers  of  the  established 
church,  I  presume  I  should  not  be  thus  treated  as 
an  offender.  Must  praying  to  God,  and  preaching 
of  Christ  with  a  company  of  Christians,  who  are 
peaceable  subjects  of  the  king, — must  this  be  a 
crime?  "  He  was  discharged  only  on  condition  that 
he  would  leave  the  country  in  a  few  weeks.  He 
died  in  Boston  in  1697.     He  always  discovered  a 


f 


52 


AARON  BANCROFT. 


■(/ 


I 


Strong  feeling  of  pious  trust,  and  was  patient  nnder  all 
his  ))ersecutions  and  privations.  He  was  animated 
by  true  religious  zeal  and  love.  "  Oh,  that  I  may  not 
be  of  the  number  of  those  who  live  without  love, 
speaking  without  feeling,  and  act  without  life."  He 
was  very  fond  of  the  holy  Scriptures.  He  said 
"  the  bihie  is  a  precious  book ;  it  is  always  new, 
and  I  learn  from  it,  as  often  as  I  peruse  it !  "  He 
published  the  non-conformists'  memorial,  biographia 
cvangelica,  and  some  other  valuable  pamphlets. 

BANCROFT,  Rev.  AARON  D.  D.  graduated  at 
Haivard  College  in  the  class  of  1778:  and  was  or- 
dained over  an  independent  Congregational  Society 
in  Worcester.  He  survived  to  the  year  1838 ;  and 
preached  until  a  short  time  before  his  death.  He 
did  not  adopt  the  Calvanistic  creed  ;  and  was  there- 
fore denied  ministerial  intercourse  by  a.  large  num- 
ber of  the  clergy  of  that  period.  He  embraced  the 
Unitarian  system,  in  its  leading  tenets :  but  was  too 
independent  to  adopt  the  theory  of  any  particular 
sect  or  class  of  Christians.  In  his  religious  views 
he  coincided  mainly  with  Rev.  Dr.  Mayhew,  who 
died  about  twelve  years  before  Dr.  Bancroft  received 
his  first  degree.  Dr.  Mayhew  published  several 
sermons,  and  other  pieces  on  theological  subjects; 
and  his  writiigs  were  read  by  most  of  the  students 
in  divinity,  at  the  time  Mr.  Bancroft  was  preparing 
for  the  Christian  ministry.  Dr.  Bancroft  may  justly 
be  characterised  as  a  rational  Christian ;  and  his 
sernions  were  eminently  of  a  practical  tendency. 
In  appearance  he  had  less  ardor  than  some  others ; , 
but  he  was  impressive  in  his  appeals  to  his  audi- 
ence ;  and  there  was  so  much  of  argument  that  his 
hearers  were  generally  convinced  of  the  truth  and 
importance  of  religion.  Di>ring  the  ministry  of  Dr. 
Bancroft,  a  great  number  of  the  clergy  in  Massachu- 
setts professed   theological   views  similar  to  those 


EDWABD   BAINIHD. 


h^ 


nder  all 
limated 
nay  not 
It  love, 
."  He 
le  said 
s  new, 
"  He 
;raphia 
its. 

mted  at 

vas  or- 

Society 

16;  and 

h.     He 

s  there- 

e  num- 

ced  the 

was  too 

rticular 

5  views 

V,  who 

eceived 

several 

ihjects ; 

indents 

sparing 

jT  justly 

nd  his 

idency. 

others ; , 

I  audi- 

mt  his 

h  and 

of  Dr. 

sachu- 

those 


'  nrhich  be  adopted  in  more  early  life.  A  few  years 
'  before  his  death,  he  published  a  volume  of  sermons, 
,  which  were  honorable  to  him  as  a  writer  and  a  theo- 
logian. Many  of  the  clergy,  who  did  not  agree 
entirely  with  him  in  his  religious  opinions,  spoke 
favorably  of  these  discourses,  and  considered  them 
calculated-  to  recommend  and  to  support  the  essential 
doctrines  of  revelation.  Dr.  Bancroft  said,  in  a  ser- 
mon preached  when  he  was  about  eighty  years  of 
age,  "  that  he  felt  alone  in  the  world ;  his  old 
friends  had  departed,  and  the  young  knew  him  not." 
There  is  truth  in  the  observation,  (hough  it  was  not 
said  by  him  in  a  spirit  of  complaint.  It  is  generally 
true,  and  such  is  the  nature  of  mankind,  that  the 
aged,  especially  if  without  worldly  power  or  treas- 
ures, have  little  influence,  or  are  little  regarded. 
But  it  would  be  as  unreasonable  as  vain  to  cherish 
feelings  of  discontent  on  this  account.  If  cheerful 
and  unobtrusive,  the  aged  will  be  esteemed  by  their 
families  and  intimate  friends;  and  the  applause  or 
attentions  of  strangers  would  not  add  to  their  hapr 
piness,  and  should  not  be  anxiously  sought.  As  a 
husband  and  father,  Dr.  Bancroft  was  correct  and 
exemplary.  He  also  had  much  of  the  Christian 
virtue  of  hospitality.  He  was  a  sincere  friend,  and 
a  pleasant  companion.  He  died  in  1838,  at  the  age 
of  eighty-three.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Ameri- 
can Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  and  received 
the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  Harvard 
University. 

BARNARD,  Rev.  EDWARD  son  of  Rev.  John 
Barnard  of  Andover,  whose  father,  Thomas  Bar-t 
nard,  was  also  minister  of  that  town,  and  both 
graduates  of  Harvard  College,  received  his  public 
education  in  that  Seminary  with  the  class  of  1736; 
and  was  the  pastor  of  the  First  Congregational 
Church  and  Society  in  Haverhill  for  thirty- one 
5* 


54 


JOHN    BARNARD. 


ii 


i!! 


years.  He  died  in  1774  at  the  age  of  fifty-four. 
Several  of  his  occasional  sermons  were  published, 
and  others  were  requested  of  him  for  publication, 
which  he  declined.  Those  published  were  a  dis- 
course before  the  convention  of  Congregational  cler- 
gymen of  Massachusetts,  one  delivered  on  the  day 
of  general  election,  one  on  a  public  Fast,  and  one  at 
the  ordination  of  Rev.  Mr.  Cary  of  Newburyport. 
After  his  death  in  1774,  his  friends  proposed  to 
publish  a  volume  of  his  sermons,  but  the  war  of 
1775  prevented.  Mr.  Barnard  was  distinguished  as 
a  scholar,  and  a  writer.  His  sermons  were  correct 
and  finished  compositions;  his  style  was  flowing 
but  notditfuse;  his  language  elegant  but  not  inflated; 
as  a  pulpit  orator  he  was  acceptable  and  popu- 
lar, but  not  a  declaimer,  nor  in  the  habit  of  address- 
ing the  passions  to  produce  temporary  excitement. 
In  his  theological  views,  he  was  ranked  with  Armi- 
nians ;  with  Dr.  Webster  of  Salisbury,  Dr.  Tucker 
of  Newbury,  Dr.  Symmes  of  Andover,  Mr.  Balch  of 
Bradford,  Dr.  Cummings  of  Billerica,  Mr.  Fogg  of 
Kensiirgton,  Mr.  Thayer  of  Hampton,  and  Mr.  Cary 
of  Newburyport. 

BARNARD,  Rev.  JOHN  of  Marblehead,  had  a 
high  character  as  a  theologian,  a  mathematician 
and  a  general  scholar.  He  received  his  first  degree 
in  Harvard  College  1700;  and  while  a  student  in 
that  Seminary,  he  was  distinguished  for  his  knowl- 
edge in  matliematics,  and  his  classical  learning. 
He  was  well  acquainted  with  the  Hebrew  language, 
as  were  many  others  of  that  day,  especially  those 
who  were  designed  for  the  ministry.  Dr.  Chauncy 
esteemed  him  one  of  the  most  learned  men  of  his 
time.  Several  of  his  occasional  discourages  were 
published  ;  and  are  written  in  a  correct  and  forcible 
style.  He  had  much  influence  among  the  clergy, 
especially  in  the  latter  part  of  his  life;  and  hisopin. 


THOMAS    BAHNARD. 


5,> 


ions  were  received  with  more  than  orJinary  defer- 
ence. His  recommendation  of  Mr.  Holyoke  for  the 
presidency  of  Harvard  College,  it  was  said,  had 
great  influence  with  the  corporation  and  overseers  in 
his  election.  Mr.  Holyoke  was  then  a  minister  in 
Marblehead,  and  his  character,  as  a  scholar  and  a 
theologian,  was  well  known  to  Mr.  Barnard  ;  and 
yet  their  views  of  the  doctrines  of  Christianity-  did 
not  coincide  entirely  :  an  evidence  of  candor,  and 
of  a  truly  liheral  and  Christian  spirit.  Ho  had  the 
reputation  of  a  liberal  and  orthodox  divine. 


BARNARD,  Rev.  THOMAS  D.  D.  received 
i:^  .  blic  education  in  Harvard  College  with  the 
c  f  1766.     His  father  was  brother  of  Rev.  Ed- 

ward Barnard  of  Haverhill,  before  noticed ;  and 
was  first  settled  in  Newbury,  and  then  in  Salem. 
On  the  decease  of  his  father,  Dr.  Barnard  was  or- 
daiaed  over  the  same  ieligious  society  in  Salem. 
He  received  a  doctorate  from  the  University  of  Ed- 
inburg,  and  also  from  Brown  University  in  Rhode 
Island.  As  a  preacher,  he  was  usually  plain  and 
practical,  but  sometimes  doctrinal  and  argumenta- 
tive. He  seldom  discussed  speculative  or  disputed 
points  in  theology ;  but  urged  the  necessity  of  a 
holy  life  and  of  good  works.  He  insisted  on  man's 
accountability,  and.  on  the  great  doctrine  of  a  future 
retribution  ;  thus  to  impress  the  heart  and  arouse  the 
conscience;  at  the  same  time  statitig  the  solf^mn 
truths  of  the  Christian  revelation,  as  a  foundation 
and  security  for  a  religious  character.  Dr.  Barnard 
was  held  in  high  esteem  by  his  clerical  brethren  for 
his  learning  and  his  liberal  views;  and  he  possessed 
social  qualities,  which  endeared  him  to  all  with 
whom  he  associated.  He  had  an  extensive  and 
correct  knowledge  of  mankind,  and  was  an  instruct- 
ive and  pleasant  companion.     He  published  several 


,1  ' 


66 


DAVID    BARNES. 


discourses  delivered  on  public  occasions,  which  were 
well  received ;  and  which  bear  testimony,  alike  to 
his  talents  and  candor. 

BARNES,  Rev.  DAVID  D.  D.  was  an  alumnus 
of  Harvard  College,  in  the  class  of  1754 ;  and  set- 
tled in  the  ministry  in  Scituate,  Massachusetts.     He 
lived  to  a  good  old  age  ;  and  always  enjoyed  the  re- 
spect and  confidence  of  his  people      As   a  preacher, 
he  was  very  plain  and  practical ;  and  seldom  intro- 
duced subjects  of  speculation,  on  which  pious  men 
entertain   different  views.     But  in  conversation  he 
did  not  decline  discussing  the  most  difficult  points  in 
theology  or  ethics.     He  however  discovered  great 
candor,  and  cherished  friendly  sentiments  towards 
all  men  whom  he  believed  well  disposed  and  sin- 
cerely seeking  for  truth.     He  was  ever  ready  to  say 
with  Solomon,  "  that  the  conclusion  of  the  whole 
matter  was  to  fear  God  and  keep  his  commands," — 
with  the  prophet,  "  what  does  the  Lord  require  of 
thee  but  to  do  justice,  love  mercy,  and  walk  humbly 
with  God," — with  St.  Peter,  "  I  perceive  that  God 
is  no  respecter  of  persons,  but  in  every  nation,  he 
who   feareth   God    and   worketh    righteousness   is 
accepted  of  him," — and  with  our  Saviour,  "  that 
the  first  commandment  is  to  love  God  with  all  the 
heart  and  soul  and  strength ;  and  the  second,  to  love 
our  neighbor  as  ourselves — that  on  these  two  com- 
mandments hang  all  the  law  and  the  prophets."      '? 
Dr.  Barnes  was  a  great  reader ;  he  was  eager  to 
obtain  every    new  publication  on  politics,  religion, 
ethics  or   philosophy.     At  the  same  time,   he   read 
with  care  and  discrimination.     He  was  ilot  merely 
a  learned  man.     He  was  a  correct  and  able  judge  of 
the  books  he  perused,  and  his  object  seemed  to  be, 
to  collect  useful  truths  in  philosophy  and  morals,   to 
communicate  to  others.    He  wished  to  inform  and 


^ 


com- 


,^ 


D.    L.    BARJNfES — J.    BARTLETT. 


57 


improve  his  people ;  especially  the  young  who  were 
ready  to  learn.  He  was  "  given  to  hospitality,  a 
lover  of  good  men,"  a  friend  of  peace,  an  advocate 
for/ree  inquiry,  and  charitable  towards  those  who 
differed  from  hiin  in  their  religious  sentiments,  if 
they  were  not  licentious,  conceited  and  censorious. 
Dr.  Barnes  lived  to  an  age  somewhat  greater  than 
three  score  and  ten. 

BARNES,  Hon.  DAVID  LEONARD  son  of  Rev. 
Dr.  Barnes,  was  graduated  in  1780,  at  Harvard  Col- 
lege. He  chose  the  law  for  his  profession  ;  and  was 
eminent  as  a  practitioner,  in  the  town  of  Providence, 
and  State  of  Rhode  Island.     He  received  Ihe  ap- 

? ointment  of  Judge  of  the  District  Court  of  the 
Tnited  States  for  that  District;  and  died  a  few  years 
after  he  was  appointed  to  that  office.  Mr.  Barnes 
was  acknowledged  to  be  an  able  lawyer,  and  his 
language  and  elocution  were  correct;  and  he  spoke 
with  great  readiness  and  fluency.  Had  his  life  beeji 
prolonged,  he  probably  would  have  been  found 
among  the  most  distinguished  judicial  characters  of 
the  country. 

BARTLETT,  Hon.  JOSIAH  was  a  native  of 
Massachusetts,  but  settled  as  a  physician,  after  the 
requisite  study  and  preparation,  in  Kingston,  in  the 
Province  of  New  Hampshire.  He  took  an  early 
and  decided  part,  with  other  whigs  in  the  country, 
in  remonstrating  against  the  arbitrary  measures  of 
the  British  ministry  in  1770-5.  And  when  they  at- 
tempted to  enforce  their  oppressive  acts  by  the  mili- 
tary arm,  in  1775,  he  appr-tved  of  the  defensive 
measures  then  adopted,  and  of  a  resort  to  the  sword 
for  the  preservation  of  our  civil  rights  and  liberties. 
He  was  Colonel  of  militia  in  177(3 ;  and  a  member 
of  the  General  Assembly  of  New  Hampshire  the 
same  year.    In  1774,  he  was  a  delegate  in  the  Pro- 


•' 


WILLIAM    BARTON. 


vincial  convention  or  Congress  in  that  province. 
And  in  1776  had  a  seat,  as  one  of  the  two  delegates 
from  New  Hampshire,  in  the  Continental  Congress. 
Next  after  John  Hancock,  then  the  president  of  that 
illustrious  band  of  patriots,  his  name  is  borne  on 
the  memorable  document,  asserting  and  declaring 
the  United  Stales  of.  America  to  be  free,  sovereign, 
and  independent.  Mr.  Bartlett  remained  in  the 
Continental  Congress  in  1777  and  1778, — and  was 
afterwards  President  of  New  Hampshire.  A  few 
years  after  the  constitution  of  that  State  was  adopt- 
ed, he  was  chosen  Governor ;  he  succeeded  Governor 
John  Sullivan  in  1790,  who  had  been  in  the  chair 
four  or  five  years.  Governor  Bartlett  died  in  1795 
at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years. — While  in  the  practice 
of  physic,  he  ranked  among  the  most  eminent  of 
the  profession  in  New  Hampshire.  His  memory  is 
cherished  with  respect,  by  those  who  were  person- 
ally acquainted  with  him,  or  who  remember  his 
public  services. 

BARTON,  Col.  WILLIAM  was  an  officer  in  the 
American  army,  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and  in 
Rhode  Island.  He  had  the  character  of  a  very 
brave  and  daring  soldier,  and  he  gave  full  proof  of 
it  by  the  capture  of  the  British  General  Prescott,  in 
1777.  The  British  then  had  a  large  force  on  Rhode 
Island,  and  occupied  Newport  and  vicinity  in  the 
spring  and  sunfmer  of  that  year,  under  command  of 
General  Prescott.  The  militia  were  collected  at  sev- 
eral places  on  the  continent  near  the  island,  but  did 
not  make  an  attack  on  the  British.  In  the  month 
of  June  of  that  year  Lieutenant  Colonel  Barton  pro- 
jected the  hazardous  plan  of  seizing  the  British  Gen- 
eral. He  took  about  twenty  choice  and  brave  spir- 
its like  himself,  and  proceeded  in  two  row  boats  in 
the  evening,  towards  the  Island.  On  the  way  he 
had  to  pass  very  near  the  British  ships  of  war  then 


1 


^mji 


EDWARD    BASS. 


TtW 


59 


;)rovince. 
delegates 
^longress. 
t  of  that 
borne  on 
declaring 
overeign, 
1   in  the 
and  was 
A  few 
as  adopt- 
Governor 
the  chair 
in   1795 
e  practice 
ninent  of 
lemory  is 
e  person- 
mber  his 


:er  in  the 
3n,  and  in 
)f  a  very 

proof  of 
escott,  in 
on  Rhode 
ty  in  the 
mmand  of 
ed  at  sev- 
i,  but  did 
le  month 
arton  pro- 
itish  Gen- 
rave  spir- 
boats  in 
way  he 

war  then 


riding  at  anchor,  off  Newport.  But  he  was  not  dis- 
covered.^ He  landed,  and  with  part  of  his  company, 
directed  his  way  to  the  head  quarters  of  the  British 
General,  who  was  in  a  house  some  distanc  v<  n  the 
town  of  Newport,  but  had  the  usua!  guard  with  him. 
Barton  had  laid  his  plans  and  given  proper  instruc- 
tions to  his  men  both  as  to  silence  and  to  action.  One 
guard  was  stilled  by  threats,  and  others  about  and  in 
the  house  by  like  means,or  by  forcinga way  separately. 
General  Prescott  had  retired,  and  was  undressing  for 
bed,  but  Barton  found  a  way  to  his  chamber,  despite 
all  obstacles — seized  on  his  person,  conveyed  him  to 
the  boat,  and  brought  him  off  in  triumph.  The  deed 
was  scarcely  credited  when  first  reported.  And  it 
excited  the  admiration  of  all  who  heard  it.  But,  in 
the  British,  admiration  was  mingled  with  mortifica- 
tion ;  in  the  Americans,  with  great  rejoicings.  Con- 
gress recommended  Barton  to  Washington,  the  Com- 
mander in  Chief,  and  he  gave  ^  'm  a  commission  as 
a  chief  Colonel.  After  the  war,  Barton  was  poor, 

and  even  wholly  destitute  of  ah  ^  .jperty,  and  was 
incarcerated  in  a  loathsome  jail  for  months,  simply 
for  debt.  General  Lafayette  pitied  and  relieved 
him ;  and  in  1828,  Congress  allowed  to  him  and  oth- 
ers who  had  served  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution, 
a  stipend  equal  to  the  payment  received  when 
they  were  in  actual  service  in  the  field.  And  this 
gratuity,  or  payment,  as  it  might  be  justly  called, 
made  the  residue  of  his  days  more  pleasant  and  com- 
fortable. He  died  twelve  years  after  this  generous 
act  of  the  government.  ',,... 

BASS,  Rev.  EDWARD  D.  D.  was  an  alumnus  of 
Harvard  College,  and  had  his  degree  in  1744.  He 
received  Episcopal  ordination  and  was  settled  over 
a  church  in  Newburyport,  which  worshipped  ac- 
cording to  the  forms  and  ceremonies  required  by  the 
English  hierarchy,  and  by  law  established  in  th^* 


WILLIAM    AND   HOOIJAH   BAYLIES. 


British  realm.  He  was  the  first  Bishop  in  New  Eng- 
land ;  but  not  the  first  in  the  colonics  now  forming 
the  United  States.  Previously  to  his  having  a  Bish- 
oprick,  there  was  one  in  New  York,  and  several  in  the 
more  Southern  States.  Dr.  Bass  was  a  good  schol- 
ar, and  a  man  of  great  moral  worth.  In  his  deport- 
ment he  exhibited  much  mildness  and  benevolence, 
as  well  as  charity  for  those  of  the  congregational  or- 
der* He  assumed  no  new  authority,  and  claimed 
no  greater  power  after  he  was  bishop,  than  before ; 
and,  therefore,  was  highly  respected  in  this  higher 
office.  His  character  was  that  of  an  an  apostolic 
bishop,  as  described  by  St.  Paul. 

BAYLIES,  WILLIAM  M.  D.  of  Dighton,  Bristol 
County,  received  his  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts  from 
Harvard  College  in  1760.  As  a  scholor  he  was  re- 
puted studious  and  critical;  and  his  general  learning 
was  made  to  contribute  to  his  skill  and  respectabili- 
ty as  a  physician.  He  carefully  studied  the  History 
of  England  and  her  colonies,  and  had  a  great  fond- 
ness, for  reading  the  biography  of  eminent  men  of 
this  country.  He  was  an  original  member  of  the 
Massachusetts  Medical  and  Historical  Societies,  and 
of  the  American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences.  No 
one,  who  had  not  talents  and  learning  would  have 
been  elected  into  these  societies.  He  was  inclined  to 
indolence  in  the  latter  part  of  his  life  :  but  his  dis- 
position was  so  mild  and  benevolent  that  he  had 
the  respect  and  friendship  of  all  who  knew  him.  Dr. 
Baylies  was  an  active  whig  in  1775.  .|.,, 

BAYLIES,  HODIJAH  of  the  same  town,  was  a 
younger  brother  of  William,  before  mentioned.  He 
received  his  first  degree  in  Harvard  College  in  1777, 
and  soon  after,  entered  the  American  army  of  the 
Revolution.  He  acted  as  aid  to  Major  General  Ben- 
jamin   Lincoln,    whose    daughter   he    married    in 


< 

I 

( 

1 
I 

1 


JONATHAN  BBLCHEH. 


m 


V  Eng-  - 
brming 
I  Bish- 
i\  in  the 
,  schol- 
deport- 
rolence, 
onal  or- 
claimed 
before ; 
higher 
ipostolic 


I,  Bristol 
Lrts  from 
1  was  re- 
learning 
jectabili- 
s  History 
kat  fond- 
t  men  of 
r  of  the 


nes, 
ces. 


and 
No 
uld  have 
clined  to 
this  dis- 
he  had 
Dr. 


iim 


'k;.. 


n,  was  a 
ned.  He 
in  1777, 
ny  of  the 
jeral  Ben- 
arried    in 


1780 ;  t'./o  years  afterwards  he  made  one  of  the 
military  family  of  General  Washington,  the  Com- 
mander in  Chief.  He  continued  as  one  of  the  aids 
of  Washington,  till  the  close  of  the  war  ;  and  it  is 
said  that  he  always  had  the  confidence  of  that  great 
and  good  man.  In  1804,  he  received  the  appoint- 
ment of  Judge  of  Probate,  for  Bristol  county.  He 
discharged  the  duties  of  the  office  with  ability  and  to 
the  acceptance  of  his  fellow  citizens;  and  resigned  it 
in  1835,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight.  He  was  living 
in  1842,  but  in  retirement,  and  very  feeble  health. 

BELCHER,  Hon.  JONATHAN  was  Governor  of 
Massachusetts  about  ten  years, from  1730  to  1740.  He 
was  a  native  of  Boston,  and  his  father  was  a  citizen 
of  great  wealth  and  respectability,  a  friend  to  religion, 
an  honorable  merchant,  and  an  honorable  counsellor. 
The  son  received  his  public  education  in  Harvard 
College,  where  he  took  his  first  degree  in  1699.  He 
was  a  good  scholar,  and  had  quite  a  literary  taste, 
but  gave  his  attention  to  merchandize  as  his  father 
had  done,  and  not  without  success.  Mr.  Belcher  early 
visited  Europe,  and  became  acquainted  with  litera- 
ry and  political  characters  of  influence.  When  he 
returned  to  Boston,  he  resumed  his  business  as  a 
merchant,  but  took  an  interest  in  political  affairs; 
was  choseu  a  Representative  from  Boston,  and  af- 
terwards had  a  seat  at  the  Council.  In  1730,  Mr. 
Belcher  succeeded  Governor  Burnet,  as  Chief  Magis- 
trate of  Massach  usetts.  , 

Burnet  was  not  very  popular,  and  had  a  long 
dispute  with  the  House  of  Representatives  respecting 
his  salary.  Belcher  had  again  visited  England,  and 
when  he  found  that  Burnet  would  probably  not  be 
continued  in  office,  he  applied  for  it  through  his 
friends,  and  received  the  appointment.  At  first,  the 
people  were  pleased  that  a  native  of  the  province 
was  to  be  their  Governor ;  but  he  had  a  similar  dis- 


ir" 


62 


JERIMT  BELKNAP.  >; 


Sute  with  the  General  Court  as  his  predecessors  had. 
Ir.  Belcher  was  also  Governor  of  New  Hampshire ; 
that  province  being  included  in  his  commission  for 
Massachusetts.  He  opposed  the  issue  of  paper  mon- 
ey in  1733,  and  that  rendered  him  obnoxious  to  spec- 
ulators and  bankrupts.  At  a  later  period  he  was 
appointed  Governor  of  New  Jersey,  and  removed  to 
that  colony  in  the  year  1739.  He  died  in  1757,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-six,  and  was  greatly  lamented  for 
his  many  virtues  and  useful  public  services.  He 
was  esteemed  as  a  pious  man,  and  some  thought 
him  an  enthusiast.  He  was  a  great  admirer  of  Whit- 
field. 

if\ 
BELKNAP,  Rev.  JEREMY  D.  D.  received  his 
first  degree  in  Harvard  College,  in  1762,  being  then  of 
the  age  of  eighteen.  He  was  designed  by  his  parents 
for  the  Christian  ministry,  and  soon  after  leaving 
College,  gave  his  particular  attention  to  the  subject 
of  theology.  At  that  period  the  advantages  for  the 
study  ol  divinity  were  not  so  great  as  at  present. 
Books  on  ecclesiastical  history  and  on  biblical  criti- 
cism have  been  multiplied  within  the  last  half  cen- 
tury. And  although  some  of  them  are  without  much 
value,  and  are  rather  indicative  of  the  writers  indulg- 
ing their  imaginations,  than  remarkable  for  solid 
learning  or  valuable  additions  to  theological  knowl- 
edge, yet  others  have  served  to  elucidate  difficult 
passages  of  scripture,  and  to  give  more  just  views  of 
revelation.  The  theological  writings  of  the  former 
part  of  the  last  century,  and  of  the  preceding,  how- 
ever, were  sources  of  knowledge  and  learning  on  re- 
ligious subjects,  calculated  to  qualify  one  for  an  able 
and  useful  minister  of  the  gospel,  on  a  diligent  pe- 
rusal and  study.  And  most  of  the  clergy  in  New 
England  of  the  last  century  were  as  learned  theolo- 
gians as  any  of  the  present  period.  They  careful- 
ly studied  the  sacred  canonical  books  in  tiieir  original 


JEBKMT   BBLINAP. 


63 


;ent  pe- 
in  New 
theolo- 
careful- 
original 


languages,  perused  the  Christian  writers  of  the  three 
first  centuries,  and  had  recourse  to  the  learned  labors 
of  protestant  diviues  from  the  time  of  Luther,  em- 
bracing a  period  cf  more  than  two  hundred  years. 
And  such  was  the  interest  taken  on  the  subject  of 
Christianity,  as  to  doctrines,  duties,  rites  and  cere- 
monies, and  the  powers  of  the  clergy — that  the  re- 
formers searched  the  scriptures,  and  early  writers  of 
the  church  most  diligently,  in  order  to  ascertain  the 
meaning  and  import  of  the  former,  and  the  views 
and  opinions  of  the  latter.  It  became  necessary  to 
do  this,  apart  from  the  desire  to  learn  the  true  doc- 
tines  and  revelation,  that  the  glosses  and  false  inter- 
pretations of  the  papists  might  be  detected  and  ex- 
posed. 

Dr.  Belknap  wrote  in  a  pure  and  correct  style, 
but  evidently  without  any  aim  at  harmonious  pe- 
riods or  elegant  phraseology.  His  published  works 
are  numerous ;  the  most  voluminous  are  his  History 
of  New  Hampshire,  in  three  octavo  volumes :  his 
American  Biography  in  two  volumes  ;  several  occa- 
sional sermons,  on  the  institution  and  observation  of 
the  Sabbath  ;  political  essays ;  a  volume  on  the  doc- 
trines, miracles  and  resurrection  of  our  Lord,  with 
reference  to  the  evidences  of  the  divine  origin  of  Chris- 
tianity; and  a  centeuial  discourse  in  1792,  three  hun- 
dred years  after  the  discovery  of  America  by  Colum- 
bus. 

The  credit  of  founding  the  Massachusetts  Histor- 
cal  Society  in  1791,  is  justly  due  to  Dr.  Belknap.  This 
Society,  as  it  should  be,  has  been  instrumental  in 
collecting,  preserving,  and  republishing  numerous 
pamphlets  published  in  the  early  periods  of  the  New 
England  Colonies,  which  would  otherwise  have 
been  lost,  and  thus  furnishing  materials  for  a  cor- 
rect history  of  the  two  and  three  first  generations. 
XMT^n^/^ei^ht  yolun^es  have  been  already  published, 


vv'ji'5j 


i-Ji^  Y, 


mm  I1CRAID  BILLINOHAM. 

and  the  value  of  their  contents  are  now  generally 
justly  appreciated. 

Dr.  Belknap  was  ordained  over  the  church  ond 
society  in  Dover,  New  Hampshire,  in  17C7,  where  he 
continued  till  17S6.  He  afterwards  took  charge  of 
the  religious  society  in  Boston,  Federal  street,  and 
remained  in  that  station  till  his  death,  1798.  He 
was  a  faithful  pastor  and  an  "  able  Minister  of  the 
New  Testament,"  and  he  shared  highly  in  the  re- 
spect and  love  of  his  friends,  for  hi?  amiable 
disposition  and  pleasant  deportment.  The  following 
lines  were  found  among  his  papers : — 

When  faith  and  patience,  hope  ond  love,  .  ^;,., 

Have  made  us  meet  fur  heaven  above, 

How  blest  the  privilege  to  ritie, 

Snatch'd  in  a  moment  to  the  akief  ; 

Unconacious  to  resign  our  breath,  t^vri 

Nor  taste  the  bilteroesa  of  death. 


He  died  suddenly  at  the  age  of  56  years. 


«M 


BELLING  HAM,   Hon.  RICHARD   was  one  of 

the  original  patentees  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  from 
the  Plymouth  Company  ih  Eni^Iand;  a  corporation 
for  settling  New  England,  or  North  Virginia  ;  a 
company  formed  in  1606,  but  not  formally  sanction- 
ed and  known  till  November  1620.  Sir  Richard 
Saltonstall,  Isaac  Johnson,  and  John  Endicott  were 
also  patentees. 

Bellingham  came  over  in  1634.  He  had  received 
a  good  education,  and  was  by  profession  a  lawyer. 
He  had  the  reputation  of  being  a  rigid  puritan,  and 
in  his  character  was  assimilated  to  all  or  most  of  the 
first  settlers  both  in  Massachusetts  and  Plymouth 
Colonies.  But  with  them  religion  was  not  a  cloak, 
nor  a  mere  name  ;  they  were  sincere  and  conscien- 
tious. Both  in  public  and  private  stations  they 
were  just,  upright  and  faithful.  There  never  was  a 
charge,  nor  does  it  appear  that  there  was  a  suspicion 


I     ! 


BtCHABD  BBLLINORAM. 


T*'" 


of  injustice  or  oppression  in  either  of  the  Governors 
of  Massachusetts  or  Plymouth  for  the  first  fifty  or 
sixty  years  ;  and  while  they  were  elected  by  the 
people.  In  1686,  Dudley  and  Andros  were  of  a 
different  character,  and  they  were  appointed  by  the 
King.  So  that  when  it  was  said  of  r;\;llingham, 
"  that  he  never  received  a  bribe,"  the  remark  would 
apply  to  the  other  chief  magistrates,  for  the  fin  t  pe 
riod.  Of  Bellinghamand  Winthropitmight  bejusr'7 
said,  "  that  they  were  learned  in  the  law."  Per- 
haps it  might  be  applied  also  to  Bradstreet,  Nowell, 
Pynchon,  and  to  Haynes  and  Ludlow  ;  the  two  last 
of  whom  removed  to  Connecticut  in  1636.  Thsu 
men  considered  civil  government  necessary  to  the 
liberties  of  the  people.  In  their  opinion,  there 
were  certain  fundamental  principles  and  ma'xims, 
agreeable  to  which  all  laws  should  be  made  and  civil 
governments  maintained.  But  they  contended 
for  more  power  in  the  people  to  decide  on  constitu- 
tional principles,  by  fornnng  or  approving  of  a  so- » 
cial  compact,  as  well  as  to  elect  their  rulers  and 
legislators,  than  the  subjects  in  England  possessed. 
They  were  real  republicans  from  the  first ;  but  the 
maintenance  of  law  and  order  was  deemed  as  es- 
sential by  them  as  by  the  people  of  <  •■\^:\t  Britain. 
Annual  elections,  in  which  all  the  frc<.  iiolders  and 
those  admitted  freemen  had  a  vote,  made  a  great  . 
change  in  the  nature  and  form  of  the  civil  government 
in  Massachusetts,  compared  to  the  parent  country. 
Laws  were  made,  and  taxes  imposed  by  the  depu- 
ties of  the  people,  chosen  in  the  several  towns.  And 
in  some  cases,  the  representatives,  when  proved  faith- 
ful and  able,  were  re-elected  for  several  years.  Bel-  . 
linghara  was  not  so  entirely  exclusive  and  intoler- 
ant as  Dudley  and  Endicott.  He^was  more  like 
Winthrop,  and  even  he  was  strict  enough  in  preserv- 
ing the  purity  of  faith  and  worship  against  all  here- 
tics and  scismatics.  Learning  inclined  them  to  be 
6* 


WILLIAM    BENTLIT.f 


more  mild  and  catholic.  Dudley  and  Endicott  were 
less  liberal,  by  any  influence  from  extensive  knowl- 
edge on  ecclesiastical  history,  and  the  study  of  men- 
tal philosophy.  Mr.  Bellingham  was  chosen  an  as- 
sistant soon  after  he  arrived  in  the  colony,  and  Gov- 
ernor in  1641  and  1654;  and  on  the  death  of  Gover- 
nor Endicott  in  1664,  for  eight  successive  years,  and 
till  his  death  in  1673.  He  survived  all  the  patentees 
and  all  the  early  assistants,  except  Bradstreet,  who 
lived  to  a  later  period  by  twenty  years.  These  fathers 
of  Massachusetts,  no  doubt,  committed  some  mis- 
takes, especially  in  their  severe  treatment  of  Roger 
Williams,  of  the  few  Episcopalians  in  the  colony, 
and  of  the  Quakers  and  Baptists.  Lechford,  a  law- 
yer, who  was  in  the  colony,  from  1637  to  1641,  and 
had  strong  prejudices  against  them,  for  their  rigid 
puritanical  opinions  and  conduct,  said,  "  that  wiser 
men  than  they,  coming  into  a  new  territory  and 
forming  a  new  government,  would  probably  have 
committed  much  greater  errors  than  they  did." 

BENTLEY,  Rev.  WILLIAM  D.  D.  was  a  native 
of  Boston,  where  he  received  a  good  classical  edu- 
cation, and  after  Ihe  usual  residence  of  four  years  in 
Harvard  College,  took  his  first  degree  with  the  class 
of  1778,  He  excelled  in  the  knowledge  of  the 
Greek  language,  and  in' three  years  after  he  finished 
his  studies,  as  a  member  of  the  college  he  was 
chosen  teacher  of  ihat  language  there;  and  con- 
tinued three  years  in  that  station.  He  v:;?  master 
of  that  copiuus  and  sonorous  language,  and  took 
great  pleasure  in  pointing  out  to  the  students  the 
poetical  beauties  of  Homer.  In  1783,  Mr.  Bentley 
was  ordained  over  the  second  religious  society  in 
Salem,  and  filled  that  important  office,  acceptably 
and  faifhfnliy  until  his  death,  in  1819.  He  gave 
much  tn  his  people,  to  the  poor  and  infirm.  He  had 
a  large  library,  and  possessed  various  and  extensive 


WILLIAM  BENTLBY. 


learning.  Few  in  the  country  were  so  well  acquainted 
with  oriental  languages  and  literature.  In  his  views 
of  the  Christian  revelation,  he  differed  from  most  of 
his  brethren  in  the  ministry.  He  did  not  exalt 
Christianity  so  highly.  He  hardly  allowed  of  its 
necessity^  or  its  new  truths  undiscovered  by  reason. 
He  spoke  of  the  Christian  revelation  as  merely  a  re- 
publication of  the  law  of  reason  and  nature  ;  of 
natural  religion,  as  being  designed  to  confirm  what 
Moses,  Abraham,  Job,  and  David  taught :  That 
natural  religion  was  the  foundation  of  the  Christian 
religion;  and  therefore  more  important,  or  superior 
to  it ;  that,  as  it  is  not  what  a  man  professes  or  be- 
lieves, but  what  he  does — that  it  is  not  every  one 
who  saith,  Lord,  Lord,  but  he  who  does  the  will  of 
his  Lord,  who  will  be  accepted.  —  From  these 
positions,  not  to  be  denied  or  disputed,  without  some 
qualifications,  and  allowed  to  be  in  a  sense  important 
and  correct ;  from  these  he  concluded  that  natural 
religion  taught  by  reason  and  nature,  and  received 
by  all  men,  was  superior  to  revealed  religion,  in 
some  sense;  and  that  the  design  of  Christianity 
therefore  was  to  bring  men  back  to  natural  religion, 
to  the  religion  of  the  patriarchs,  which  consisted  in  the 
worship  and  adoration  of  one  God,  with  as  little  out- 
ward form  as  might  be;  in  jnslicp,  benevolence,  and 
kindness  to  our  fellow-man  ;  and  in  purity,  sobriety, 
temperance  and  self-denial.  It  is  not  my  pnrpose 
to  discuss  any  such  question  as  may  here  arise,  but 
only  to  state  some  of  Dr.  Bentley's  religious  views. 
They  were  not  peculiar  to  him.  Many  expressed 
similar  sentiments  in  the  early  ages  of  Christianity; 
in  the  time  of  Eusebius  the  historian.  And  some  at 
the  present  day  entertain  similar  opinions.  Dr. 
Bentley  published  several  discourses  delivered  be- 
fore Free  Masons,  at  ordinations,  and  on  the  General 
Election.  He  died  in  1819,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
three. 


68 


GRORGB    BLISS. — WILLIAM  BOU.AS. 


BLISS,  Hon.  GEORGE  L  I,.  D.  received  his 
education  in  Yale  College,  Connecticut,  and  was 
graduated  in  1784.  He  chose  tlie  profession  of  law, 
and  was  distinguished  for  legal  learning,  and  for 
good  judgment  and  integrity  as  an  attorney.  He 
settled  in  Springfield,  Massachusetts,  the  place  of 
his  birth.  He  had  a  great  thirst  for  knowledge,  and 
was  a  diligent  student  through  life.  His  acquire- 
ments were  great,  and  his  application  of  his  talents 
and  learning  were  to  useful  purposes,  both  in  a 
moral  and  political  view.  He  traced  the  customs 
and  principles  of  law  to  their  origin ;  and  was  de- 
sirous of  ascertaiuing  the  authority  on  which  they 
rested.  Few  were  as  well  read  in  law  as  Mr.  Bliss; 
and  very  few  as  diligent  and  thorough  in  searching 
for  legal  precedents  to  bear  on  any  cause  in  which 
he  was  engaged  as  attorney  or  counsellor.  He  was 
frequently  called  into  public  life  by  his  fellow 
citizens;  having  been  elected  several  years  as 
Representative,  Senator  or  Counsellor.  The.  re- 
ligious character  of  Mr.  Bliss  merits  high  commenda- 
tion. Being  a  firm  believer  in  divine  revelation,  he 
made  public  profession  of  the  Christian  faith;  and 
made  that  holy  system  the  rule  and  guide  of  his 
conduct  in  all  the  relations  of  life. 


>ii  '.'^ 


BOLLAN,  WHJJAM  Esq.,  came  to  America  in 
1743,  soon  aifter  Governor  Shirley  settled  in  Boston, 
whosr  daughter  he  married.  He  was  a  lawyer  by 
profession.  In  1746,  he  was  sent  as  agent  to  Eng- 
land for  the  Province;  and  continued  in  that  station 
several  years.  His  talents  were  of  a  superior  order; 
and  he  gave  himself  much  to  the  study  of  the  re- 
sources and  statistics  of  the  country,  especially  of 
Massachusetts.  He  was  an  able  and  faitliful  agent 
for  the  Province,  and  in  various  ways,  sought  for  its 
welfare  and  prosperity.  But  in  1762,  he  fell  under 
the  censure  of  the  General  Court,  the  majority  of 


B.    BOURNE — R.    BOtTRNE. 


69 


which  supposed  he  did  not  fully  state  th3  expeuses 
which  the  Province  had  incurred  in  the  long  war 
of  1754 — 1762.  It  was  a  matter  of  regret  with 
many  that  he  was  superseded  in  that  office ;  for  it 
was  soon  evident  that  his  successor  was  less  able  or 
attentive  than  he  had  been.  Mr.  Bollan  was  an 
Episcopalian ;  and  some  prejudice  on  that  account, 
might  still  exist  in  the  people  generally  in  New 
England.  The  Council  however,  continued  him  as 
their  agent  for  several  years ;  and  had  no  cause  of 
regret  for  the  confidence  ihey  placed  in  him,  or  for 
his  conduct  in  that  capacity.  He  lived  to  witness 
the  collision  botween  the  parent  country  and  the 
colonies  in  North  America,  which  he  probably  long 
foresaw  and  lamented.    He  died  in  the  year  1776. 

BOURNE,  BENJAMIN  L  L.  D.  of  Bristol, 
in  the  State  of  Rhode  Island,  received  his  public 
education  in  Harvard  College  with  the  class  of  1775. 
He  descended  from  Rev.  Richard'  Bourne  of  Sand- 
wich, Massachusetts.  He  chose  the  legal  profession ; 
and  had  the  reputation  of  an  able  lawyer.  He  also 
possessed  the  esteem  of  those  who  knew  him,  as  an 
honorable  and  accomplished  man.  Mr.  Bourne  was 
a  member  of  Congress  under  the  present  Federal 
government,  and  always  discovered  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  the  resources  of  the  country ;  and  ap- 
proved the  policy  of  President  Washington  and 
Adams.  In  1800,  he  received  a  commission  from 
President  Adams  as  one  of  the  judges  of  the  United 
States  circuit  court,  established  that  year,  by  a  law 
of  Congress:  and  he  was  much  respected  in  that 
capacity  and  station.  In  1801,  the  taw  establishing 
that  court  was  repealed  ;  and  Judge  Bourne  did  not 
long  survive  after  that  time. 

BOURNE,  RICHARD  was  one  of  the  first  inhab- 
itants of  Sandwich,  in  the  county   of  Barnstable, 


70 


NATHANIEL   BOVOITCH. 


h 


which  WHS  pottled  in  1635.  During  several  years  as 
the  peop'  -  ili  .6  had  no  ordained  minister,  he  usual- 
ly peribri  led  the  public  rehgions  services.  He  soon 
manifested  a  desire  to  have  the  Indians  of  that  vi- 
cinity taught  the  great  doctrines  and  duties  of  Chris- 
tianity, and  to  be  civilized  through  its  blessed  influ- 
ence, and  the  aid  of  agricuhural  occupations.  In 
1650,  he  labored  to  teach  the  Christian  religion  to 
the  natives,  and  sometimes  with  good  success, 
i  Mr.  Bourne  may  be  considered  the  third  Missiona- 
ry in  the  order  of  time,  to  the  Indians  in  ISew  Eng- 
land. Thomas  Mayhew  of  Jhe  Vineyard  was  the 
first,  in  1043,  and  John  Eliot  of  lloxbury,  was  the 
second,  in  1646.  Mr.  Bourne  was  ordained  over 
the  Indians  of  the  tribe  at  Marshpee,  in  1670,  by 
Rev.  John  Eliot  of  Roxbury,  and  Rev.  John  Cotton 
of  Plymouth,  a  son  of  the  first  Mr.  Cotton  of  Boston. 
Mr.  Bourne  aimed  also  to  prouiv'^te  the  temporal 
welfare  and  improvement  of  the  Indians,  to  introduce 
among  them  the  arts  of  civilization.  But  his  success 
was  not  great  in  this  respect,  though  severa'  of  the 
Marshpee  tribe  were  induced  to  have  a  fixed  and  per- 
manent residence,  and  to  cultivate  the  soil.  He  r^an- 
ifested  his  regard  for  their  welfare,  by  prevailing  on 
the  colonial  authority  to  confirm  their  lands  to  them 
and  their  children  so  that  they  might  not  be  able  to 
sell  to  any  one  for  any  consideration.  His  son  and 
a  grandson  were  also  great  friends  to  the  Indians,  and 
labored  for  their  improvement. 

BOWDITCH,  NATHANIEL  L  L.  D.  was  born 
in  Salem,  and  his  parents  were  of  the  common  class 
of  people,  but  respectable.  While  quite  a  youth  he 
discovered  an  uncommon  spirit  of  inquiry,  and  an 
ardent  desire  for  knowledge.  His  father  did  not  feel 
able  to  give  him  an  expensive  education,  without 
doing  injustice  to  the  other  members  of  his  family  ; 
and  young  Bowditch  was  sometime  employed  as  s^ 


NATHANIEL  BOWDITCH. 


n 


1^ cars  as 
I  Ubual- 
lie  soon 
that  vi- 
.f  Chris- 
d  influ- 
ns.  In 
jgion  to 

5S. 

Lissiona- 
w  Eng- 
vvas  the 
ivas  the 
ed  over 
670,  by 
I  Cotton 
r  Boston, 
temporal 
nt  reduce 
1  success 
\  of  the 
and  per- 
jle  han- 
dling 0!! 
to  them 
able  to 
son  and 
ans,  and 


I'as  born 
on  class 
outh  he 
and  an 
not  feel 
without 
lamlly ; 
red  as  9, 


clerk  in  a  merchant's  counting  room.     Though  al- 
ways attentive  in  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his 
station,  and  faithful  to  the  interests  of  his  employer, 
he  gave  much  time  to  reading  and  study.     This  was 
done  by  devoting  the  time  to  books  which  most 
young  persons  spend  in  recreation  and  amusement. 
Mathematical  studies  were  principally  pursued  by 
him  from  his  youth.     He  was  resolved   to  under- 
stand the  science  of  numbers,  and  at   the  age  of 
twenty,  he  surpassed  all  his  contemporaries  in  this 
department  of  knowledge.     A  little  before  he  reach- 
ed this  age,  he  expressed  a  desire  to  take  a  distant 
voyage;  induced  probably  by  a  desire  to  see  foreign 
countries,   as  well  as  to  engage  in  some  profitable 
employment.     Here  his  habits  of  industry,  and  his 
love  of  mathematical  pursuits  continued.     When 
not  performing  his  proper  duties,   he  was  at    his 
books ;  and  while  eager  to  store  his  own  mind   with 
knowledge,  he  was  always  ready  to  assist  others  in 
their  studies,  and  even  to  excite  them  to  spend  their 
eisure  hours  in  the  attainment  of  useful  information. 
He  taught  several  of  the  seaman  the  art  of  naviga- 
tion, who  had  not  studied   it   before.     As   he   ad- 
vanced in   life,   Mr.  Bowditch  cherished  still  more 
strongly  his  love  of  mathematics,  including  the  sub-, 
lime  subject  of  astronomy.     His  work  on  navigation 
has  been  of  great  use  to  seamen,  while  it  is  proof  of 
his  diligent  and  profound  studies.     His  great  workv^ 
entitled,  "  Mechanique  Celeeste,'^  is  not  surpassed  by 
that  of  any  philosopher   or  astronomer  which  has 
ever  appeared.     In   this  work  he  has  discovered  a 
most  comprehensive  mind ;  by  which  it  h^s  been 
acknowledged  he  rose  above    Franklin,  to  a  level 
with  Newton.     His  great  and  wonderful  attainments 
may  justly  be  attributed  to  his  uncommon  industry, 
to  his  profound  reflections,  and  his  thorough  inves- 
tigations.    As  a  friend,  a  son,  the  head  of  a  family, 
and  a  citizen,  he  was  highly  estimable  and  greatly 


JAMES    BOWDOIM. 


beloved;  as  a  Christian  at  once  liberal  and  imosien- 
tatious,  hnmble  and  devout.  He  dicii  in  1838  at 
tho  age  of  sixty-four.  He  received  trie  degree  of 
L  L.  D.  from  Harvard  Uhsversity  in  1816.  And  he 
was  a  Fellow  of  the  Royal  Society  of  London,  an  A 
of  other  learned  societies  in  Europe. 

BOWDOIN,  Hon.  JAMES  L  L.  D.  ut.s  of 
French  descent,  and  his  grandfather  Pore  Bowdoin 
who  came  to  America  in  1688,  was  a  Hugonaut,  or 
Frcii<'-h  profesiant.  His  father  was  a  respectable 
merchant  in  Boston,  and  by  diligence  and  prudence 
acquired  a  large  estate.  Mr.  Bowdoin  received  the 
degree  of  A.  B.  in  Harvard  College  in  the  year 
1745,  at  the  age  of  eighteen.  Even  at  that  early 
age,  he  had  the  reputation  of  a  diligent  student  and 
a  good  scholar.  After  leaving  the  University,  he 
devoted  much  more  time  to  literary  pursuits  than 
the  graduates  of  the  college  generally  do.  In  his 
youthful  days,  he  sometimes  indulged  in  poetical 
effusions.  But  his  poetry  was  not  much  admired. 
He  published  a  pamphlet  in  rhyme;  of  which  he 
and  his  friends  were  surprised  to  find  that  the  book- 
seller disposed  of  only  five  or  six  copies.  His  chief 
study  was  directed  to  mathematics,  astronomy,  and 
the  physical  sciences.  He  corresponded  with  some 
of  the  most  eminent  astronomers  in  England,  and 
wrote  several  articles  for  publication  in  the  volumes 
of  the  American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences ;  of 
which  learned  society  he  was  president,  from  1780, 
when  it  was  founded,  till  the  time  of  his  death,  in 
1790.  Mr.  Bowdoin  was  one  of  the  leading  charac- 
ters of  the  Revolution  of  1775.  He  was  decided  and 
firm  in  his  opinions,  but  less  ardent  than  some  of  the 
patriots  of  that  memorable  period.  And  moderation 
united  to  firmness  was  as  necessary  as  ardor  and 
zeal.  He  was  a  member  of  the  General  Court,  as 
early  as  1754,  when  he  was  only  thirty ;  and  from 


JAMK8     BOWDOIN.   ^^ 


-m 


838  at 
gree  of 
And  he 
OP,  anl 


wr.3  of 

towdoin 

laut,   or 

ipectable 

)rudence 

ived  the 

the  year 

lat  early 

ident  and 

Brsity,  he 

uils  than 

.    In  his 

L  ]K)etical 
admired. 

which  he 
ihe  book- 
His  chief 
lomy,  and 
n\h  some 
land,  and 
J  volumes 
iences;  of 
rom  1780, 
death,  in 
ig  charac- 
Bcided  and 
ome  of  the 
noderation 
ardor  and 
Court,  as 
and  from 


that  time  generally  had  a  seat  in  the  legislature,  in 
the  House  or  Council.     More  than  once,  he  received 
the  negative  of  the  Governor,  for  his  firmness  in 
opposing  the  arbitrary  acts  of   Parliament.      The 
other  counsellors  chosen,  May  1774,  by  the  General 
Court,  were   John    Erving,    James    Pitts,    Artemas 
Ward,  Benjamin  Greenleaf,  Caleb  Cushing,  Michael 
Parley,  Samuel  Phillips,  Richard  Derby,  Jr.,  James 
Otis,    William  Sever,    Walter    Spooner,    Jeremiah 
Powell,    Benjamin    Chadbouin,    Zedediah   Preble, 
George  Leonard,  Jerathmiel  Bowers,   Enoch  Free- 
man, Jedediah  Foster,  John  Adams,  James  Prescott, 
Norton  Quincy,  Benjamin  Austin,  Timothy  Daniel- 
son  ;  but  Governor  Gage  gave  his  negative  to  the 
following  persons  —  Bowdoin,  Dexter^    J.   Adams, 
Winthrop,  Danielson,  Austin,  Phillips,  Farley,  Pres- 
cott, Quincy.     With   the  exception  of  Bowers,  the 
above  were  requested  by  the  Provincial  Congress  in 
Oct.  1774,  to  attend  at  the  (then)  next  session  of  that 
body,  as  the  constitutional  counsellors  of  the  prov- 
ince ;  and  the  mandamus  counsellors  were  disowned. 
He  may  be  classed  with  Otis,  S.  Adams,  and  J.  ' 
Adams,  S.  Dexter,  J.  Hawley,  J.  Winthrop,  J.  Han- 
cock.    Bowdoin,  Winthrop,  (professor,)  and  Dexter 
were   among  the  most  literary  characters  of  their 
day.     Mr.   Bowdoin  was  one  of  the  five  delegates 
chosen  in  Massachusetts  in   June  1774.  to  attend  a 
Continental  Congress  which  met  in  September  of  that 
year  at  Philadelphia;   but  was  unable  to  attend. 
He  had  a  seat  in  the  Supreme  Executive  Council  of 
Massachusetts  in  1775,  and  several  years  following : 
and    he  was   president  of  the  Convention    which 
formed  the  constitution  of  the  State,  m  1780.     He 
had  the  highest  respect  for  General   Washington. 
He  considered  him  one  of  the  greatest  men  who  had 
ever  lived.     Mr.  Bowdoin  was  Governor  of  Massa- 
chusetts in  1785  and   1786 ;  and  his  administration 
of  the  government  of  the  State  received  the  approba- 
7 


74 


WILLIAM    BBADFOBO. 


♦■ 


^  tion  of  the  great  body  of  the  people.  The  times  re^ 
quired  uncohiinon  firmness  and  prudence.  The  debts 
of  the  commonwealth  were  to  a  great  amount,  arising 
from  the  expenses  of  the  war  of  the  Revohition, 
which  continued  to  1783;  and  the  taxes  were  high 
and  burdensome :  so  that  a  portion  of  the  people 
which  did  not  duly  reflect  on  the  cause  of  the  taxes 
complained,  and  at  length  attempted  to  prevent  the 
due  course  of  law  and  justice  by  combination  and 
force.  By  prudence  and  decision  in  Governor 
Bowdoin,  the  lawless  were  restrained,  and  ,  the  an- 
archy which  threatened  was  happily  prevented.  In 
private  life  his  character  was  without  reproach. 
He  fully  sustained  the  character  of  an  honest, 
benevolent  man,  and  of  a  sincere  and  humble  Chris- 
tian. His  faith  in  the  truth  and  the  divine  origin  of 
Christianity  was  free  of  all  doubt — and  while  he 
exercised  his  reasqn,  in  ascertaining  the  meaning  of 
difficult  and  obscure  passages,  he  bowed  to  the 
authority  of  Christ,  and  received  his  plain  declara- 
tions with  submissive  reverence.  He  attributed  his 
belief  in  the  gospel,  in  a  great  measure,  io  a  careful 
perusal  of  Butler's  analogy  of  natural  and  revealed 
religion. 

BRADFORD,  WILLIAM  one  of  the  principal 
men  by  whom  Plymouth  colony  was  settled  in  1620, 
was  chosen  Governor  soon  after  the  death  of  John 
Carver,  in  March  1621 ;  and  was  annually  elected 
till  his  death  in  1657,  except  five  years,  when  he 
was  excused  at  his  own  particular  request.  Edward 
Winslow  was  elected  three  years,  and  Thomas 
Prence  two  years  within  that  period.  Governor 
Carver  was  a  very  discreet  and  prudent  character ; 
and  his  early  death  was  greatly  lamented.  Mr. 
Bradford  was  thirty-two  years  of  age  when  the 
company  of  one  hundred  began  the  settlement  of 
Plymouth.    It  appears  by  his  letters  and  other  man- 


WILLIAM    BRADFORD. 


76 


es  re- 
debts 
rising 
ution, 
high 
people 
taxes  . 
nt  the 
n  and 
vemor 
tie  an- 
id.     In 
proach. 
honest, 
5  Chris- 
rigin  of 
hile  he 
ining  of 
to    the 
Jeclara- 
ted  his 
careful 
evealed 

ffincipal 
in  1620, 
of  John 
elected 
jirhen  he 
Edward 
Thomas 
Governor 
laracter ; 
jd.     Mr. 
irhen  the 
ement  of 
her  man- 


uscripts, and  by  the  testimony  of  his  contemporaries 
also,  that  he  hud  a  good  education.  He  understood 
the  ancient  languages,  and  was  well  read  in  theology, 
in  ecclesiastical  and  general  history.  He  early 
united  himself  to  the  Church  of  puritans  under 
Clifton  and  Robinson  ;  and  after  sutfering  persecu- 
tion on  account  of  religion  several  years,  he  went 
with  others  to  Holland  in  1608.  There  they  re- 
mained nearly  twelve  years,  when  they  removed  to 
America.  Robinson  and  most  of  his  church  were 
at  first  rigid  separatists;  and  declined  all  religious 
intercourse  with  those  of  the  established  Episcopal 
churches,  because  of  the  great  errors  and  corruptions 
which  then  prevailed  in  them.  But  they  became 
more  mild  and  catholic  after  a  few  years.  Mr. 
Bradford,  and  Mr.  Carver,  and  Mr.  R.  Cushman, 
went  agents  to  England  for  the  company  at  Ley  den, 
in  1618  and  1619,  to  obtain  leave  for  occupying 
some  territory  in  Virginia,  north  or  south,  and  for 
making  proper  preparations  to  transport  their 
families  to  the  new  world.  Religion  was  their  ppki- 
cipal  object  ia  removing,  and  in  settling  in  a  wild 
and  unsubdued  forest.  None  but  men  sincerely  re- 
ligious, would  have  voluntarily  submitted  to  such 
privations,  difficuties  and  dangers,  and  made  such 
sacrifices  as  they  did.  "T^ey  forsook  a  fruitful 
land,  goodly  houses  and  dear  relatives,  to  go  to  a 
distant  wilderness,  thousands  of  leagues  by  sea. 
They  suffered  all  this  and  more,  that  they  might 
enjoy  the  ordinances  of  Christ  in  their  primitive 
purity."—"  They  preferred  purity  in  religion  and 
the  primitive  doctrines  of  the  gospel  before  all  the 
honors  and  pleasures  of  the  world."  The  story  of 
their  sufferings  has  been  so  often  told,  that  it  is  not 
necessary  to  dwell  upon  it.  Governor  Bradford  re- 
tained the  esteem  of  the  colony  during  the  long  pe- 
riod he  was  chief  magistrate.  There  was  Jiever 
my  charge  of  mal-conduct  preferred  against  him, — 


"' 


WILLIAM    BRADFORD. 


nor  were  any  oppressed  by  his  agency ;  and  no 
jealously  or  rivalship  ever  existed  bet«irr>en  him  and 
the  other  leading  characters  of  the  colony.  He  left 
two  sons  by  a  second  wife,  Mrs.  Alice  South  worth  ; 
a  son  by  the  first  wife  was  lost  on  a  passage  to  Eng- 
land. His  son  William  had  a  numerous  oflspring; 
nine  sons,  and  four  daughters.  This  son  was  an 
assistant,  treasurer  of  the  colony,  the  commander  of 
the  militia,  and  in  1686,  the  deputy  governor.  He 
was  also  one  of  the  Council  in  Massachusetts,  under 
the  second  charter,  granted  in  1691,  when  Plymouth 
was  included  in  that  Province.  Ho  died  in  1704,  at 
the  age  of  eighty.  One  of  his  sons  settled  at  Nor- 
wich, in  Connecticut.  One  in  Duxbury  by  the  name 
of  Samuel;  whose  son  Gamaliel  was  judge  of  tlie 
Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  the  C-ounty  of  Plymouth, 
and  a  counsellor,  in  the  time  of  Governor  Bernard 
and  Governor  Hutchinson.  And  his  son  Gamaliel 
was  a  colonel  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution ; 
and  afterwards  a  Representative  and  a  magistrate. 
"These  all  died  in  faith," — faith  in  the  doctrines 
and  promises  of  the  Christian  revelation — and  in 
faith  of  the  propriety  of  the  Church  government, 
discipline  and  practice  of  their  pilgrim  fathers  of  the 
Leyden  society  under  John  Robinson. — "  This  Mr. 
Robinson,"  says  an  Episcopalian,  ''  to  give  him  his 
due,  was  a  learned  man  and  of  a  mild  spirit."  In 
the  last  ten  years  of  his  life  he  was  far  more  candid 
and  charitable  in  his  religious  opinions,  than  when 
he  first  separated  from  the  established  Church.  His 
various  writings  afford  proof  of  his  extensive  learn- 
ing. He  received  his  education  in  one  of  the 
colleges  in  Cambridge.  Dr.  Belknap,  and  others 
after  him,  say  he  was  "  probably  "  educated  in  that 
University.  They  might  have  omitted  the  word 
probably.  In  a  manuscript  left  by  Mr.  Robinson  at 
his  death,  he  says — "  As  they  who  affect  alienation 
^rom  others  make  their  differences  as  great,  and  the 


WILLIAM     BRADFORD. 


n 


ind  v.o 
m  and 
tie  left 
worth ; 
to  Eng- 
spring ; 
was  an 
ginder  of 
or.     He 
s,  under 
ymouth 
1704,  at 
at  Nor- 
he  name 
e  of  t)ie 
ymouth, 
Bernard 
damaliel 
/ohition ; 
igistrate. 
doctrines 
—and  in 
ernment, 
«rs  of  the 
This  Mr. 
s  him  his 
rit."    In 
e  candid 
in  when 
Ich.     His 
e  learn- 
of  the 
id  others 
id  in  that 
ihe  word 
linson  at 
lienation 
and  the 


opinions  and  practices  of  those  opposed  to  them  as 
odious  as  possible :  so,  on  the  contrary,  they  who 
desire  peace  interpret  things  tas  favorably  as  they 
can,  and  seek  for  a  lawful  door  of  ctry  into  agree- 
ment  or  accord  with  them.  Of  this  number  I  pro- 
fess myself  to  be,  by  the  grace  of  God,  both  as  a 
companion  and  a  guide;  especially  ns  to  my  Chris- 
tian countrymen,  to  whom  God  has  lied  me  by 
many  bonds ;  accounting  it  a  cross  that  I  am  in  any 
particular  compelled  to  dissent  from  them.  And  I 
esteem  it  a  benefit,  and  a  matter  of  rejoicing  where 
I  can  with  a  good  conscience  unite  with  them  in 
matter,  if  not  in  manner;  or,  where  it  may  be,  in 
both.  And  this  affection  1  have  always  cherished 
in  my  breast,  even  when  I  seemed  farthest  drawn 
from  them.  And  all  who  know  my  course  can 
testify  that  I  tiave  opposed  all  sour  zeal  against  and 
rejection  of  such  as  whose  holy  graces  challenged 
respect  from  all  Christians.  I  have  one  and  the 
same  faith,  hope,  spirit,  baptism  and  Lord,  which  I 
had  in  the  Church  of  England,  and  none  other: 
and  I  esteem  many  of  that  Church  to  bo  partakers 
of  the  like  faith ;  and  therefore  as  my  Christian 
brethren."  Bradford  and  Winslow  bear  testimony 
to  the  great  candor  of  Mr.   Robinson,  in   the  latter 

Eart  of  his  life.  It  was  greatly  to  the  honor  of  Mr. 
Lobinson  that  he  became  more  candid  and  liberal 
as  he  advanced  in  life,  and  his  knowledge  increased. 
So  it  is  with  all  independent  and  honest  minds.  He 
died  in  1625,  at  Ley  den,  at  the  age  of  fifty,  when 
intending  to  remove  to  America  with  the  portion  of 
his  Church  who  did  not  emigrate  in  1620,  1621,  or 
1623. 

^  BRADFORD,  Hon.  WILLIAM  a  native  of 
Plympton,  Massachusetts,  a  son  of  Samuel,  who 
was  a  great-grandson  of  Governor  William  Brad- 
ford, was  an  eminent  lawyer,  and  early  setUed  at 

■      ^i 


78 


THOMAS   BRATTLE. 


1 1 


Briftol,  in  Rhode  Island.  He  first  studied  medicine, 
and  practised  A  (vvr  years  in  eurlyr  life.  His 
business  as  a  lawyer,  was  quite  extensive  in  the 
southern  parts  of  Massachusetts,  as  well  as  in 
Rhode  Island.  Ho  was  an  able  and  popular  advo- 
cate ;  and  given  to  \nt  and  humor,  which  rendered 
him  a  pleasant  companion.  He  held  the  oHice  of 
Lieutenant  Governor  in  Rhode  Island  several  years : 
and  when  the  General  government  was  established 
under  the  constitution  of  the  United  States,  he  had 
the  appointment  of  a  federal  Senator.  He  retained 
this  station  some  years,  when  he  resigned  on  account 
of  the  feeble  state  of  his  health.  He  lived  near 
Mount- Hope;  and  his  lands  included  that  memora- 
ble eminence.  One  of  his  sons  had  his  public  edu- 
cation in  Harvard  College ;  and  one  of  the  family 
lately  owned  the  estate  of  his  ancestor. 

BRATTLE,  THOMAS  Esq.,  an  eminent  man 
of  Boston,  Massachusetts,  was  brother  of  Rev. 
William  Brattle  of  Cambridge.  He  received  his 
first  degree  at  Harvard  College  in  1676.  He  rank- 
ed high  as  a  scholar ;  and  as  a  mathematician  and 
astronomer :  very  few  of  that  period  were  his  equals 
in  that  department  of  science.  He  wrote  an  account 
of  the  ^alem  witchcraft,  which  alarmed  the  country 
in  1692  ;  and  many  were  put  to  death  at  the  time  of 
that  lamentable  deluision.  He  had  no  faith  in  witch- 
craft, and  his  statement,  as  well  as  those  of  some 
others  made  soon  after,  afforded  satisfactory  evi- 
dence that  the  persons  charged  were  innocent  of  the 
crime,  and  that  their  accusers  were  under  the  in- 
tluence  of  most  unfounded  and  superstitious  fears. 
Two  of  the  judges,  out  of  five,  which  constituted 
the  tribunal  before  which  they  were  tried,  and  sev- 
eral clergymen,  were  opposed  to  the  persecutions  and 
executions  which  took  place  for  that  purpose.  Mr. 
Brattle  was  a  religious  character,  but  more  liberal 


W.    BRATTLE — B.    BRIOHAM. 


79 


in  some  respects  than  the  majority  of  his  day, 
especially  on  the  subject  of  Church  government. 
And  he  supposed  all  of  a  religions  society,  who 
regularly  attended  public  worship  and  paid  their 
taxes  towards  the  minister's  sup[)ort,  had  a  right  to 
vote  in  all  the  concerns  of  the  society.  He  denied 
that  the  members  of  the  Church  had  the  exclusive 
right  to  settle  the  minister. 

BRATTLE,  Rev.  WILLIAM  was  many  years 
pastor  of  the  first  Congregational  Church  and  So- 
ciety in  Cambridge.  He  had  his  first  degree  in 
Harvard  College  in  the  year  IGSO :  and  was  one  of 
the  best  scholars  of  his  day.  He  passed  several 
years  as  an  instructor  and  fellow  in  the  college  ;  and 
his  services  were  highly  appreciated.  Dr.  Increase 
Mather  was  then  president  of  the  college;  but 
passed  nearly  three  years  in  England,  from  1688  to 
1691 ;  and  Mr.  Brattle  and  John  Leverett,  after- 
wards the  president,  were  the  only  instructors.  The 
students  were  well  governed,  during  this  period ; 
and  they  made  as  great  improvement  a.s  when  the 
president  was  with  them.  Dr.  Mather  did  not  re- 
side whollyr  near  the  college:  he  was  pastor  of  a 
church  in  Boston  while  president,  and  there  was  his 
usual  and  general  residence.  Mr.  Brattle  was  a  fel- 
low of  the  Royal  Society  jn  London;  a  distinction 
of  which  very  few  Americans  could  then  boast. 
He  was  a  superior  writer  for  his  time.  His  sermons 
were  well  studied  and  his  didactic  compositions,  in 
the  opinion  of  Mr.  Dummer,  a  competent  judge, 
were  equal  to  those  of  the  clergy  in  England  which 
passed  through  the  press.  Mr.  Brattle  died  in  1717, 
aged  fifty-four;  and  left  a  high  character  as  a 
pastor  and  a  theologian. 

BRIGHAM,  Hon.  ELIJAH  was  educated  in  Dart- 
mouth College,  and  received  his  first  degree  in  1778. 


80 


WILLIAM    BBEWSTEB.  -'Sf 


!i 


\- 


He  passed  through  colloge  with  the  reputation  of  a 
good  scholar  and  a  correct  young  man.  He  chose 
the  law  for  his  profession;  and  acquired  and  main- 
tained an  honorable  character  among  his  brethren  of 
the  law,  and  of  his  fellow  citizens  generally,  in  the 
County  of  Worcester  in  which  he  resided.  In  1810, 
he  was  elected  a  member  of  Congress;  and  contin- 
ued to  hold  a  seat  in  the  national  legislature  several 
years.  He  died  in  1817,  while  a  member  of  that 
body. — He  was  also  a  justice  of  the  Court  of  Com- 
mon Pleas  for  the  County  of  Worcester  ;  and  some- 
time a  member  of  the  Senate  and  of  the  "Supreme 
Executive  Council  of  Massachusetts.  He  was  much 
esteemed  as  a  man  of  good  sense  and  sound  judg- 
ment ;  intelligent  and  correct  as  a  politician,  as  well 
as  candid  and  conciliating  in  his  opinions.  He  had 
more  reason  to  be  tenacious  of  his  own  sentiments 
than  many  others,  who  are  conceited  rather  than 
wise ;  and  obstinate  rather  than  decided.  Mr.  Brig- 
ham  had  equal  firmness  and  moderation.  He  held 
other  stations  than  those  mentioned,  of  a  public 
nature  ;  and  was  always  found  attentive  and  faithful 
in  discharging  the  duties  of  his  station. 

BREWSTER,  WILLIAM  one  of  the  principal 
founders  of  the  Plymouth  Colony,  in  1620,  received 
his  education  at  the  University  in  Cambridge,  Eng- 
land, and  was  sometime  under-secretary  of  Sir  Wil- 
liam Davison,  an  Embassador  to  Holland  in  the 
time  of  Queen  Elizabeth.  Davison  fell  under  cen- 
sure from  the  Queen  and  her  ministers,  and  his  po- 
litical office  was  taken  from  him  ;  and  Brewster  was 
thus  thrown  out  of  public  employment.  He  was  pious 
from  his  youth,  and  was  early  found  among  those 
who  opposed  the  ceremonies  and  forms  of  the  Eng- 
lish Episcopal  church.  The  puritans,  or  separatists,  as 
they  were  then  called,  assembled  in  private  houses, 
in    small  companies ;  and    Mr.    Brewster's    house 


WILLIAM    DREWSTER. 


81 


ion  of  a 
le  chose 
id  main- 
ethren  of 
y,  in  the 
In  1810, 
i  contin- 
B  several 
r  of  that 
of  Com- 
nd  some- 
"Supreme 
v»s  much 
nd  judg- 
i,  as  well 
He  had 
entiments 
iher  than 
Mr.  Brig- 
He  held 
a    public 
d  faithful 


principal 
received 
ge,  F.ng- 
Sir  Wil- 
1  in   the 
ider  cen- 
d  his  po- 
pster was 
tvas  pious 
nig  those 
the  Eng- 
ratists,as 
e  houses, 
■•'s    house 


■■ 


was  one  of  the  places  where  they  often  met  for  re- 
ligious worship,  in  which  they  did  not  conform  to 
the  prayers  and  rites  required  by  the  common  laws 
of  the  realm.*  By  his  influence,  a  society  was  form- 

*In  16S3,  sixty  rei^nlar  ministers  inSuiTolk  county,  England,  were 
silenced,  on  a  charge  or  sufipicion  of  non-confurtiiity  ;  sMty-foar  in 
Norfolk,  thirty-eight  in  Es^ex,  and  twenty-one  in  Lincolnshire.  The 
latter  was  the  county  in  which  originally  resided  several  of  Mr.  Rob- 
inson's church.  'I'hesc  twenty-one  silenced  clergy  of  Lincolnshire 
presented  the  following  petition  to  the  Lords  of  tho  Council.  It  has 
not  been  given  by  any  one  who  has  referred  to  the  history  of  the 
Paiitans  of  that  period^; — "  Forasmuch,  right  honorable,  as  the 
Lord  of  heaven  and  earth  hath  substituted  your  honors  next  under 
her  majesty,  to  procure  passage  to  his  gospel,  beauty  to  his  church, 
and  glory  to  his  kingdom  ;  in  which  business  of  the  Lord,  to  the 
great  joy  of  all  those  who  pray  heartily  for  Jerusalem,  hitherto  yoa 
have  happily  proceeded.  VVe  whose  names  are  under  written,  whom 
the  same  Lord  hath  in  mercy  placed  over  some  of  his  people  here  in 
Lincolnshire,  as  pastors  and  preachers  to  feed  them  with  the  word  of 
truth,  do  humbly  beseech  your  honors  to  regard  the  pitiful  and  woful 
state  of  our  congregations  and  people  in  these  parts,  which  being  des- 
titute of  our  ministry,  by  means  of  a  subscription,  generally  and 
strictly  urged  now  and  of  late  by  the  bishop's  officers,  do  mourn  and 
lament.  It  is  well  known  to  your  Lordships  that  an  absolute  sub- 
scription is  required  though  the  province  of  Canterbury,  to  three  ar- 
ticles :  concerning  her  Majesty's  supreme  authority  in  the  Church, 
the  book  of  common  prayer  with  that  of  consecrating  bishops  and 
priests,  and  concerning  the  book  of  articles.  As  touching  the  first, 
we  offer  ourselves  to  a  full  subscription,  as  always  heretofore  we 
have  done  ;  as  also  to  the  articles  of  religion  '■  but  cannot  be  accept- 
ed herein  without  an  absolute  subscribing  to  the  other,  unto  which 
we  dare  not  condescend,  being  not  us  yet  (many  of  us)  fully  ac- 
quainted with  the  book  of  consecratir.g  bishops  and  ordaining  priests 
and  deacons  ;  and  all  of  us  unresolved  and  unsatisfied  in  our  con- 
sciences in  many  points  of  the  common  prayer.  May  it  please  yonr 
Lordships  also  favorably  to  consider,  that  in  refusing  an  absolute  sub- 
scription, we  do  it,  not  out  of  any  arrogancy  ;  but  for  that  we  have 
not  any  sufficient  resolution,  which  wu  earnestly  desired,  of  some 
doubts  about  divers  weighty  matters  and  points  in  the  same  book  : 
which  requests  of  ours  siih  we  could  not  obtain,  we  desired,  that,  in 
the  least,  in  our  subscription  we  might  make  exception  of  the  things 
whereof  we  doubted,  which  they  have  utterly  denied  us  ;  for  v-hich 
causes,  right  honorable,  we  fearing  to  subscribe,  so  absolutely  as  we 
wore  urged,  we  are  all  svsp'}ndfd  f'rotn  the  execution  of  the  functions 
of  our  ministry  among  our  people,  to  the  great  danger  of  their  Mula, 


82 


WILLIAM    BREWSTER. 


\  . 


1 


ed  in  his  vicinity,  composed  of  such  as  were  opposed 
to  much  of  the  ritual  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and 
anxious'for  a  purer  worship,  and  more  agreeable  to 
that  of  the  primitive  Christians.  Clifton  and  Rob- 
inson became  their  teachers;  and  after  being  long 
harrassed  and  persecuted,  they  retired  to  Holland  in 
1607  and  1608,  with  little  property  saved  from  the 
oppressions  of  their  cruel  persecutors.  At  Amster- 
dam, where  they  first  resided  a  year,  and  afterwards 
at  Leyden  for  ten  years  more,  Mr.  Brev/ster  en- 
gaged in  the  business  of  teaching  youth  the  English 
language,  and  had  the  charge  of  a  printing  otfice. 
He  was  long  the  ruling  Elder  of  the  church  ;  and 
at  that  day,  the  churches  which  separated  from  the 
established  Episcopal  Church  chose  none  for  ruling 
elders  who  were  not  able  to  teach.  On  settling  at 
Plymouth,  as  Mr.  Robinson  did  not  come  with  them, 
and  they  were  long  without  an  ordained  minister, 
Mr.  Brewster  took  the  lead  in  public  religious  wor- 
ship; and  his  services  were  highly  acceptable.  He 
was  indeed  a  learned  theologian ;  and  fully  compe- 
tent to  instruct  the  people  in  the  doctrines  and  duties 
of  the  Christian  religion.  He  left  a  high  character 
for  faith,  piety,  humility,  resignation,  benevolence 
and  charity.  He  was  the  oldest  of  the  first  com- 
pany, by  which  Plymouth  was  colonized ;  being 
about  sixty  years  old,  when  the  company  came 
in  1620.     He  died  in  1644,  at  the  age  of  eighty- four. 

and  danger  of  loj^ing  the  fruit  of  our  former  poor  laborn,  whicn  we 
huveby  God'a  grace  employed  upon  them.  Wherefore,  we  humbly 
crave  of  your  honorB,  our  cause  being,  as  we  are  persuaded,  the 
Lord's  own  cause,  and  iiis  church's,  that  it  may  be  considered  :  and 
that,  since  we  can  neither  be  impeached  of  false  doctrine  nor  con- 
tempt of  her  majesty's  laws,  nor  of  refusing  the  use  of  the  book  of 
common  prayer  in  our  charges,  nor  breeding  contention  and  sedition 
in  the  church  :  and  since  papists,  her  majesty's  enemies,  with  athe- 
ists, to  the  corruption  of  religion  in  doctrine  and  manners,  do  daily  in- 
crease, we  may  be  restored  to  our  churches  and  people,  in  such  sort, 
as  with  all  peace  of  conscience,  we  may  go  forward  with  the  Lord'a 
work,  iu  building  up  his  house  in  our  several  places." 


JOHN     BROOKS. 


At  the  time  of  his  decease  he  had  a  considerable 
Hbrary,  and  his  memory  was  long  and  is  even  now 
cherished  with  great  respect,  as  a  godly  man,  and 
a  useful  member  of  society.  His  descendants  are 
numerous,  and  scattered  in  various  parts  of  the 
country.  His  oldest  son  settled  at  New  London  in 
1656.  His  other  son.  Love  or  Freelove,  died  in 
Duxbury,  at  an  age  not  very  advanced.  William 
and  Wrestling  were  sons  of  Love,  not  of  the  Elder 
as  sometimes  stated.  Nathaniel  Brewster,  who  had 
a  degree  in  Harvard  College  in  1642,  was  also  a 
grandson  of  the  Elder.  He  went  to  England  and 
was  settled  there  in  the  ministry ;  but  was  ejected  in 
1662,  and  afterwards  returned  to  America,  and 
settled  over  a  society  on  Long  Island. 

BROOKS,  JOHN  may  justly  be  considered  as 
one  of  the  most  distinguished  military  characters  in 
Massachusetts,  of  the  last  generation.  Not  that  be 
was  educated  a  soldier,  or  that  his  chief  distinction 
was  that  of  a  military  hero.  He  had  amiable  quali- 
ties, which  endeared  him  to  his  fellow  •  ni/.eno,  and 
entitled  him  to  high  esteem  as  a  worihy  moral 
character.  In  early  life  he  studied  medicine,  and 
settled  as  a  physician  in  Reading,  near  Medford,  the 
place  of  his  birth.  But  the  war  o^  the  Revolution 
commenced  soon  after  he  took  up  his  residence  in 
the  place  first  mentioned.  He  was  a  sincere  patriot, 
and  therefore  much  opposed  to  the  oppressive  and 
arbitrary  measures  of  the  British  ministry  at  that 
period.  He  soon  made  up  his  mind  to  take  an  ac- 
tive part  in  the  dispute,  then  existing  between  the 
parent  government  and  the  people  in  the  Anterican 
colonies.  He  was  elected  captain  of  a  company  of 
the  militia,  then  called  "minute  men,  "  in  Reading: 
and  spent  much  time  in  teaching  them  the  military 
discipline.  In  the  Spring  of  1775,  he  received  a 
commission  as  Major  in  a  regiment  of  which  Colonel 


(i 


ii 


l\ 


# 


84 


JOHN     BROOKS. 


Ebenezer  Bridge,  of  Chelmsford,  was  commander. 
He  repaired  to  the  vicinity  of  Lexington  and  Con- 
cord, at  the  alarm  c  f  the  attacks  on  the  people  in 
those  towns,  the  nineteenth  of  April,  1775.  From 
that  time,  lie  was  in  the  military  service  of  the 
State  and  country  till  the  close  of  the  war  in  1783. 
He  went  on  to  Charlestown  heights,  with  Colonels 
Prescolt  and  Bridge,  the  night  of  the  sixteenth  of 
June,  but  was  not  in  the  battle  of  the  seventeenth, 
being  sent  early  the  morning  of  that  day,  by  Col- 
onel Prescott  to  General  Ward,  then  cliief  com- 
mander of  the  militia  assembled  in  Camoridge,  for 
recruits.  From  Cambridge  he  proceeded  according 
to  his  instructions  to  Medford,  to  hasten  on  the 
militia  of  New  Hampshire,  under  command  of  the 
veteran  General  Starks,  then  encamppd  in  that  town. 
But  having  no  horse  to  ride,  he  was  engaged  many 
hours  in  this  service,  and  in  requesting  other  troops 
then  in  the  vicinity,  to  hasten  on  to  Bunker  Hill ; 
and  was  not  therefore  in  the  fort  with  Colonel  Pres- 
cott during  the  battle  of  that  memorable  day.  The 
next  year,  1776,  he  received  a  commission  as  Lieu- 
tenant Colonel,  and  continued  in  the  war  till  the 
return  of  peacp  ;  with  a  high  reputation  for  bravery, 
intelligence  and  fidelity.  He  was  a  strict  disciplin- 
arian ;  and  often  received  the  approbation  of  Gener- 
al Washington,  for  liis  prompt  attention  to  and  dis- 
charge of  the  duties  of  his  station.  Colonel  Brooks 
had  great  influence  with  his  fellow  officers,  as  well 
as  with  th<*  men  under  his  immediate  command ; 
and  that  influence  was  always  exerted  in  support  of 
order,  and  jn  suppressing  all  insubordination  and 
irregularitv.  Hi«  courage  was  often  exhibited  on 
trying  occasions,  arxi  in  situations  of  danger.  At 
Saratoga  in  17T7,  in  checliing  the  D»arch  of  the 
Britisli  General  Bourgoyne  through  ^rje  country,  he 
rendered  great  ^ervicr  at  the  head  o(  his  regiment, 
»nd  contributed  hi«  full  portion  by  activitf  and  reso- 


NICHOLAS   BROWN. 


85 


mmander. 
and  Con- 
people  in 
'5.     From 
ice  of  the 
r  in  1783. 
h  Colonels 
xleenth  of 
jventeenth, 
r,    by   Col- 
chief  com- 
[oridgc,  for 
,  according 
ten  on  the 
land  of  the 
1  that  town, 
aged  many 
3ther  troops 
tinker  Hill ; 
)loncl  Pres- 
day.     The 
as  Lieu- 
war  till  the 
or  bravery, 
li  disciplin- 
>n  of  Gener- 
to  and   dis- 
oncl  Brooks 
ers,  as  well 
command ; 
n  support  of 
Illation  and 
xhibited  on 
danger.     At 
arch  of  the 
country,  he 
us  regiment, 
Vf  arid  reso- 


l 


lution  in  the  capture  of  the  British  armjr.  He  made 
great  efforts,  with  some  other  officers,  in  quieting 
the  complaints  of  the  army  for  the  delinqnencies  of 
Congress  in  making  payment,  when  the  troops  were 
about  to  be  discharged  on  the  news  of  peace.  They 
had  suffered  much  in  the  public  service ;  and  were 
importunate  for  the  payment  of  their  wages,  that 
they  might  not  return  to  their  homes  as  beggars  and 
paupers. — After  the  war  Colonel  Brooks  returned  to 
the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Medford,  for  he 
was  not  fond  of  a  military  life,  and  only  took  up  the 
sword  for  the  liberties  and  the  welfare  of  the 
country.  He,  however,  so  far  retained  a  military 
taste,  that  he  was  desirious  of  seeing  an  efficient 
militia;  and  he  sometime  held  the  office  of  Major 
General  in  the  County  of  Middlesex,  which  com- 
posed the  second  division  in  the  State.  —  General 
Brooks  was  also  a  member  of  the  Senate ;  and  then 
of  the  Council,  when  Mr.  Strong  was  the  Chief 
Magistrate ;  and  on  the  resignation  of  the  latter  in 
1816,  he  was  elected  Governor  of  the  Common- 
wealth. He  held  the  office  seven  years ;  and  con- 
ducted with  remarkable  prudence  and  impartiality, 
as  well  as  with  ability  and  good  judgment.  Grov- 
emor  Brooks  died  in  March  1825,  at  the  age  of 
seventy -four.  Several  years  before  his  death  he 
made  a  public  profession  of  his  faith  in  the  Christian 
systenii,  and  his  conversation  was  such  as  become 
that  sacred  profession.  His  views  were  similar  to 
those  who  are  usually  called  liberal  Christians. — 
But  he  was  not  ultra  or  sectarian  in  his  religious 
views.  He  had  a  good  portion  of  the  protectant 
spirit,  receiving  the  inspired  scriptures  as  the  stand- 
ard of  religious  truth,  and  using  his  reason  in  the 
interpretation  tlioreof. 

-  BROWN,    Hon.   NICHOLAS   was  a  native  of 
Providence,  and  an  eminent  merchant  and  a  highly 

8 


'■*<  i4 


I 


86 


SAMUBL   BRYANT. 


retpectablo  citizen  of  that  place  for  more  than  half  s 
century.  He  received  his  pablic  education  in  the 
College  of  Rhode  Island  with  the  class  of  1786 ;  six- 
teen years  after  that  seminary  was  founded.  He 
early  engaged  in  merchandise,  and  was  greatly  pros- 
pered in  his  business ;  his  industry  and  fair  dealings 
being  the  principal  means,  no  doubt,  of  his  uncom- 
mon success.  Mr.  Brow  n  was  also  a  friend  to  litera- 
ture and  science,  and  a  liberal  benefactor  to  the 
seminary  in  which  he  had  been  educated.  He  made 
large  donations  to  it,  at  different  times,  so  that  its 
governors,  with  great  propriety,  ordered  that  it 
should  be  called  by  his  honored  name;  and  since  1789, 
it  has  been  known  as  Brown  University.  On  numer- 
ous other  occasions,  for  the  support  of  plans  designed 
to  promote  the  moral  and  social  improvement  of  his 
follow  men,  Mr.  Brown  gave  liberally  and  cheerful- 
ly. He  was  one  of  those  benevolent  and  good  men 
who  may  justly  be  said  to  be  "  the  salt  of  the  earth ;" 
not  only,  indeed,  did  he  wish  to  preserve  what  was 
pure  and  excellent  in  the  world,  but  to  add  to  the 
general  amount  of  human  virtue  and  happiness.  Mr. 
Brown  was  chosen  into  the  board  of  corporation  or  a 
fellow  of  the  University  in  1825,  and  was  a  member 
at  the  time  of  his  death  in  1841  ;  and  he  was  then 
seventy-three  years  of  age. 


I,*' 


BBYANT 

vard  ■•<  jUege, 


Rev. 
and 


SAMUEL  was  educated  in  Har- 
received  his  first  degree  in  the 
year  1739.  He  sett!  :  in  Braintree  as  pastor  of  the 
first  church  and  society — now  Quincy — and  succes- 
sor of  Rev.  John  Hancock.  Mr.  Hancock  was  the 
father  of  the  celebrated  patriot  of  that  name.  Mr. 
Bryant  belonged  to  the  more  liberal  class  of  the 
theologians  of  his  day ,  and  had  similar  religious 
views  with  Rev.  Dr.  Gay,  Dr.  Mayhew,  Dr. 
Chauncy,  Dr.  Shute,  &c.  He  had  some  oppcsers,  on 
account  of  his  theological  opinions,  and  many  waroi 


BAMXTBL   BRYANT. 


87 


m  half  a 
»n  in  the 
r86;  six- 
ied.    He 
aly  pros- 
dealings 
is  uncom- 
.  to  litera- 
yt  to  the 
He  made 
3  that  its 
1    that  it 
ince  1789, 
)n  numcr- 
9  designed 
ent  of  his 
i  cheerful- 
good  men 
le  earth ;" 
what  was 
add  to  the 
ness.    Mr. 
ration  or  a 
a  member 
was  then 


ed  in  Har- 
ree  in  the 
stor  of  the 
id  succes- 
:k  was  the 
ame.  Mr. 
ass  of  the 
religious 

hew,    Dr. 

ipcsers,  on 
"any  waini 


friends.  He  published  several  discourses,  on  the 
foundation  of  moral  virtue,  and  spoke  of  the  absurd- 
ity of  depreciating  it,  as  some  preachers  then  did ; 
in  stating  the  necessity  of  faith  and  the  imperfect 
righteousness  of  man.  He  considered  faith  in  the 
christian  revelation  as  essential,  but  contended  also 
for  the  necessity  of  habitual  obedience  ;  there  being, 
as  he  said,  an  obligation,  naturally,  as  reason  and 
conscience  taught,  to  obey  God,  or  to  conform  to  his 
law  written  on  the  heart,  in  order  to  the  divine  ac- 
ceptance and  favor.  In  a  word,  he  laid  more  stress 
on  moral  virtue  than  do  some  other  professing  chris- 
tians; who  substitute  faith  for  obedience,  or  who 
insist  generally,  on  the  necessity  of  the  former,  while 
they  think  the  latter,  being  at  best  imperfect,  is  not 
essential.  But  on  this  long  contested  question,  of 
the  comparative  importa  ice  of  faith  and  of  good 
works,  perhaps  there  is  less  real  difference  of  opin- 
ion among  christians,  if  they  would  explain  their 
views,  than  has  sometimes  appeared  to  be.  Mr. 
Bryant  used  some  expressions,  in  his  sermon  on 
moral  virtue,  less  accurate  and  definite  than  he 
should  have  done.  They  were  liable  to  be  mis- 
understood, or  misrepresented  by  those  who  opposed 
his  religious  views,  generally.  He  seems  justly  to 
have  interpreted  the  passage  from  the  prophet,  often 
quoted  to  prove  the  best  services  of  men  worthless 
and  utterly  vain  or  unacceptable  in  the  sight  of  God. 
That  the  ceremonial  righteousness  of  the  hypocriti- 
cal and  immoral  Jews  was  hwXjUthy  rags  is  true, 
but  not  so  the  habitual  obedience  of  the  sincerly  re- 
ligious. Not  every  one  who  says  Lord,  Lord,  but 
he  who  dops  the  will  of  God  is  to  be  accepted — 
To  pray  twice  a  week,  and  give  tythes,  and  to  wash 
often  the  outside  of  the  cup  and  platter,  when  the 
weightier  matters  of  the  law  are  neglected*— this 
righteousness  may  well  be  called  "  filthy  rags." 
But  we  are  told   that  the  prayers  and  alms   of 


i 


Ml   ' 


88 


JOSEPH   8.    BU0KMIN8TEB. 


Cornelius  went  up  as  a  memorial  before  God ;  and 
that  in  e^wry  nation  he  who  feareth  God,  and  work- 
eth  righteousness,  is  accepted  of  him. 

BUCKMINSTER,  Rev.  JOSEPH  6TEVENS  was 
a  son  of  Rer.  Joseph  Buckminster  of  Portsmouth, 
New  Hampshire.  The  father  was  also  the  son  of 
a  minister  in  Rutland,  Massachusetts.  Mr.  Buck- 
minster of  Portsmouth,  had  the  reputation  of  a  good 
scholar,  an  able  divine,  and  a  popular  preacher.  He 
wab  indeed  highly  distinguished  among  his  clerical 
brethren  for  his  talents  as  well  as  for  devotion  to  the 
duties  of  his  holy  profession.  But  the  son  was  still 
more  eminent  as  a  classical  .scholar,  as  a  biblical  critic 
and  a  learned  theologian,  as  an  elegant  writer,  and  an 
eloquent,  interesting  preacher.  He  received  a  degree 
in  Harvard  University,  in  1800,  when  he  was  only 
seventeen  years  of  age  ;  and  was  considered  the  first 
scholar  in  his  class.  He  discovered  a  great  desire  for 
knowledge  when  a  child ;  and  often  when  others 
were  engaged  in  mere  recreation,  he  was  found  in 
retirement  and  study.  While  he  was  a  member  of 
the  College,  he  proposed  to  enter  the  Christian  min- 
istry as  a  profession  for  life.  Possessing  an  indepen- 
dent spirit,  and  a  love  for  moral  and  religious  truth, 
which  were  cherished  by  the  teachers  in  that  semi- 
nary, he  paid  less  regard,  in  his  theological  studies,  to 
the  generally  received  creeds  of  the  day,  than  most 
others.  In  forming  his  opinions,  he  neither  rejected 
tenets  because  they  were  old,  seeking  for  something 
new,  nor  received  as  truths  the  doctrines  of  those  c^ 
former  generations,  without  careful  inquiry  and  con- 
sideration. 

Mr.  Buckminster  was  settled  over  the  society  in 
Bitattle  square,  BostcMi,  in  1803,  as  successor  to  the 
gifted  Dr.  Peter  1  hatcher,  many  years  the  beloved 
pastor  of  that  church.  He  soon  became  one  of  the 
most  {.opular  preachers  of  his  time,  and  was  also  a 


JOSEPH   8.    BUCKMINtTCB. 


89 


iod;  and 
Dd  woik- 


ENS  was 
rtsmouth, 
he   son  of 
Ir.  Buck- 
of  a  good 
cher.     He 
is  clerical 
ion  to  the 
1  was  still 
)lical  critic 
ter,  and  an 
;d  a  degree 
I  was  only 
ed  the  first 
it  desire  for 
hen  others 
found  in 
member  of 
istian  min- 
in  indepen- 
;ious  truth, 
that  semi- 
studies,  to 
than  most 
ler  rejected 
something 
of  those  of 
y  and  con- 
society  in 
issor  to  the 
the  beloved 
[one  of  the 
ras  also  a 


dose  and  diligent  student,  as  to  the  most  important 
subjects  connected  with  the  sacred  profession.  He 
was  liberal  in  his  theological  views,  yet  truly  evan- 
gelical :  for  he  founded  his  religious  faith  entirely  on 
the  Christian  revelation,  and  insisted  on  the  divine 
propitiousness  and  grace,  on  deep  repentance  for  sin, 
and  personal  piety  and  holiness,  as  necessary  to  sal- 
vation. He  had  very  strong  devotional  feelings, 
and  a  deep  sense  of  our  obligations  for  the  light  and 
knowledge  of  the  gospel,  for  the  hope  of  immortality 
which  it  inspires  and  confirms ;  but  urged  an  ha- 
bitually holy  life  in  order  to  gain  a  spiritual  charac- . 
ter,  and  to  be  qualified  for  the  heavenly  world,  which 
we  are  assured  by  Christ,  is  prepared  for  his  sincere 
followers.  While  his  sermons  were  finished  compo- 
sitions, abounding  with  apt  illustrations,  elegant 
phrases  and  striking  figures  of  speech  ;  they  were 
discriminating,  characteristic,  and  experimental. — 
They  were  rich  in  sentiment,  close  in  argument,  and 
powerful  in  appeal  to  the  moral  sense,  and  to  the 
religious  feelings  of  man.  He  believed  that  all  men 
have  a  capacity  for  religion  ;  and  that  the  great  work 
of  the  Christian  teacher  was  to  enlighten,  arouse  and 
develope  this  noble  but  natural  faculty.  ''  It  was 
his  meat  and  drink;"  therefore,  his  aim  and  desire, 
his  joy  and  delight,  to  instruct  his  hearers  in  the 
glorous  doctrines,  and  to  persuade  them  to  imbibe 
the  spirit  of  the  gospel.  Then  was  he  most  gratifi- 
ed, when  the  young,  or  others  of  his  society  gave 
evidence  of  their  religious  sensibilities  and  advance- 
ment in  a  holy  life,  by  his  preaching.  Mr.  Buck- 
minster  died  in  June  1812,  when  the  friends  of  learn- 
ing and  of  liberal  Christianity  were  indulging  in  ar- 
dent anticipations  of  his  future  usefulness  and  fame. 
His  publications  gave  proof  of  his  correct  taste  as  a 
writer,  and  of  his  great  acquirements  as  a  scholar. 
After  his  decease  a  volume  of  his  sermons  was  pub- 


4    !i 


J     '." 


! 


1i 


'n  I 


W  PBTSR    BULKLBT.       rt. 

lished,  at  the  particular  desire  of  his  society ;  of 
which  there  were  several  edition!^  in  a  few  years. 
And  they  must  long  be  read  and  appreciated  as  a 
monument  of  his  talents  and  piety. 

For  biblical  learning,  very  few  in  the  country 
were  equal  to  Mr.  Buckminster,  and  none  surpassed 
him.  His  interpretations  and  illustrations  of  scrip- 
ture were  ingenious  and  satisfactory.  Perhaps  no 
theologian,  even  of  the  older  class,  better  understood 
the  prophetic  books  of  the  Old  Testament,  or  the  na- 
ture and  design  of  the  Christian  system.  He  studi- 
ed the  characters  and  opinions  of  the  sacred  writers, 
as  well  as  the  opinions  and  views  of  the  people  to 
'  whom  they  wrote  ;  and  could  therefore  correctly 
point  out  the  meaning  of  an  obscure  or  difficult  pas- 
sage. He  generated  a  taste  for  biblical  criticism ; 
and  since  his  day  it  has  been  far  more  cultivated 
than  before. 

BUIiKLEY,  Rev.  PETER  came  to  New  England 
in  1635,  and  the  next  year  was  settled  in  the  minis- 
try in  Concord,  one  of  the  first  inland  towns  in  Mas- 
sachusetts. He  opposed  the  fanatical  conduct  of 
Ann  Hutchinson  and  her  followers,  and  was  by  them 
called  a  legal  preacher. 

Mr.  Cotton,  of  Boston,  and  Governor  Vane  declined 
sitting  in  the  counsel  or  taking  any  part  in  the  or- 
dination of  Mr.  Bulkley.  But  he  was  a  truly  pi- 
ous man,  and  a  learned  theologian.     His  reputation 

'   was  high  in  England,  as  a  scholar  and  a  preacher 

^  of  the  gospel.  He  published  several  sermons,  and 
a  treatise  on  the  gospel  covenant.     His  views  were 

'  truly  evangelical,  and  he  was  disposed  to  magnify 
tlie  divine  grace  in  providing  a  way  for  the  salvation 

"  of  men  by  an  inspired  teacher  and  mediator.  Yet 
he  was  opposed  by  the  fanatics  of  his  time  as  insist- 
ing too  much  on  good  works.     He  was  a  most  ex* 


•^^mmmmmmmmm 


fBTBft    BULKLBT. 


tf?Hi  #i-»w  ^«#'r 


iras  a  most  ex- 


aions  in  his  retired 
•  >''  the  comforts 
H,-}  wif^ sprung 
lass,  but  she 


emplary  character,  as  a  christian  minister ;  generous 
ana  kind  to  his  dependents,  to  whom  he  gave  lots  of 
land  when  they  loft  his  servire.  He  had  a  large 
estate,  and  yet  endured  great  p* 
situation  at  Concord,  where 
of  life  were  not  then  to  be  proc 
from  a  family  far  above  the  c  m 
readily  endured  much  for  the  sake  of  ruligion.  She 
was  a  true  help-meet  to  her  husband,  in  all  his 
changes ;  and  he  had  been  subject  to  great  trials  in 
his  native  land.  He  had  a  large  family,  and  it  was 
a  very  harmonious  and  happy  one,  for  it  was  the 
abode  of  religion.  Three  of  his  sons  were  clergy- 
men. Edward,  the  oldest,  was  educated  in  England, 
and  after  he  came  to  this  country,  he  preached  some- 
time at  Green's  Harbor,  so  called,  now  Marshfield, 
where  Ho  .ernor  Winslow  resided ;  and  afterwards  was 
settled  as  a  colleague  with  his  venerable  father.  John 
was  in  tho  first  class  at  Harvard  College,  in  1642  ; 
went  to  England  and  was  settled  as  a  minister  there. 
He  was  ejected  in  1662,  soon  after  the  restoration  of 
Charles  II.  when  about  two  thousand  o(  the  Puritan 
clergy  wore  deprived  of  their  places.  He  practised 
physic  several  years,  and  died  at  the  age  of  seventy. 
The  third  son,  Gershom,  was  the  pastor  of  the 
church  in  New  London.  They  were  all  esteemed  as 
able  and  pious  ministers,  but  the  latter  was  the  most 
distinguished  as  a  preacher.  His  son  Peter  was  in 
civil  life  ;  sometime  Speaker  of  the  house  of  Assem- 
bly or  Representatives  in  Massachusetts,  and  agent 
to  England  for  the  colony,  with  William  Stoughton, 
one  of  the  first  scholars  and  statesmen  of  his  time. 
Several  of  the  descendants  of  Mr.  Bulkley  have 
lived  in  the  State  of  Connecticut.  His  grand- 
son John  and  a  son  of  Gershom,  a  graduate  of  Har- 
vard College,  in  1699,  ranked  among  the  first  schol- 
ars of  his  time,  and  was  also  distinguished  for  good 
judgment  and  a  powerful  intellect.     He  was  minis- 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


O 


^ 


'ks 


% 


1.0 


1.1 


11.25 


£   Ufi    |2.0 

Wwu 


$s 


^ 

<»^* 

> 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


33  WKT  MAIN  STRUT 

WIBSTiR,N.Y.  MSSO 

(71«)  •72-4503 


\ 


^V 


4 


•^ 


>^^^ 

^.v* 


I.  BOMiLL.-— x.<  arLis. 


i 


I0rof  Golch«fter  in  Gonncciieutv  andl  imUitheflv' 
lelaiing  to  Chriitian  beptitni,  ai  wtll  at  an  elabotoaM 
tmy  on  the  extent  of  the  existing  right  of  theo»> 
tire  Indians  to  the  soil,  whether  they  occupied  it  ot 
not 

BURRILL,  Hon.  JAMES  LL.  D.  a  eitiaen  of 
Rhode  Island,  received  his  public  education  in 
Brown  University,  with  the  class  of  1788.  He  en* 
gaged  in  the  pmfession  of  law;  and  soon  rose  to 
eminence  as  a  practising  attorney.  He  had  the  rep^ 
ntation  of  a  learned  counsellor,  and  an  able  advo- 
cate. His  popularity  was  greater  than  those  of  any 
other  lawyer  in  the  State.  He  spoke  with  great 
flveocy  and  pertinency,  and  his  elocution  was  of  tho 
hig^MMt  order.  He  was  appointed  Chief  Justice  of 
the  Supreme  Court  in  Rhode  Island,  at  an  unusntl* 
ly  early  age.  And  afterwards  was  appointed  Sen- 
ator in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States.  He  filled 
these  high  stations  with  no  ordinary  talents  ancl 
learning,  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  constituents,  and 
with  much  credit  and  honor  to  himself.  He  died  in 
1^80,  when  he  had  scarcely  passed  a  moiety  of  the 
time  usually  allotted  to  men,  and  while  a  member  of 
the  national  Senate.  His  premature  death  was  great- 
I7  deplored  by  citizens  of  other  States,  as  well  as 
of  Rhode  Island,  by  all  sound  politicians  and  re» 
pnblicans;  and  particularly  by  the  officers  of 
Brown  University,  of  which  he  was  a  sincere  and 
efficient  friend. 

BYLES,  Ret.  MATHER  D.  D.  was  bom  in 
Boston,  near  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tnrv ;  and  after  receiving  his  education  in  Harvard 
College,  where  he  was  graduated  in  172ft,  and 
studpng  theology  several  years,  he  was  ordained 
OTer  a  religions  society  in  the  south  part  of  his  na- 
tire  town.    He  discovered  a  great  desire  for  learn- 


lUTHim  BTLSa. 


ing  in  Mirljr  joath ;  mnd  he  l«ft  the  college  with  the 
repatation  of  e  good  clastical  ichclar,  end  partieu- 
larljr  for  his  attainments  in  natural  philosophy.  He 
had  a  taste  for  poetry  j  and  often  indulged  it  in  a 
manner  gratifying  Id  his  acquaintai^ce  and  (riends. 
He  published  some  verses  possessing  more  than 
common  imagination  and  vigor.  He  affected  to  be 
a  wit,  and  was  a  great  punster.  Many  of  his  puns 
have  been  handed  down  to  the  present  time.  Some- 
times he  discovered  ready  wit ;  but  his  sayings  were 
often  studied,  and  inappropriate  to  the  occasion.  It 
was  said  that  he  died  with  a- pun  in  his  mouth ;  and 
that  for  the  sake  of  saying  what  h^  consid^ied  a 
smart  thing,  he  did  not  hesitate  to  wound  the.  feel- 
ing! of  hie  nearest  friends.  He  had  the  reputatk)9 
of  a  conjurer  or  astrologer  with  the  ignorant  clasa  cif 
people.  But  he  was  too  learned  seriously  to  make 
pretensions  to  any  such  knowledge.  —  He  iras 
known,  indeed,  to  speak  with  contempt,  or  utter  d^ 
belief  in  that  theory,  in  any  degree.  Dr..Byles 
published  several  occasional  discourses,  which  tank- 
ed high  among  similar  productions  of  the  clergy  of 
his  time.  His  st^le  of  writing  was  characteristic  of 
the  man ;  energetic  and  pungent,  sometimes .  sarcaa- 
tic  and  severe.  He  had  a  strong  prcsjudice  against 
bishops,  and  other  Episcopal  clergymen,  yet  hia  sob 
took  orders  from  a  bishop  of  the  Church  <»  England, 
and  was  long  a  minister  in  Halifax,  Nova  Scotia^ 
Pr»  Byles  died  in  1788,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two. 


IX'     '■ 


'fin  I. 


tHM»o^/|0  Iff  1  •^tii'n 


'■    -.lf<<f«0  i^  '     .  I'M 


t 


CHAPTER  III. 


C 


'!',;■• 


.} 


>*  iiii''f^- 


CABOT,  Hon.  G  EORGE  was  a  native  of  Be^irlf, 
Massachusetts,  where  he  was  born  in  1760.  He 
teceived  a  good  education  in  his  youth  ;  and  after 
passing  two  years  in  Harvard  College,  being  of  a  very 
active  and  resolute  spirit,  he  went  to  sea  for  a  short 
time,  and  then  engaged  in  the  business  of  a  merchant, 
in  this  profession  he  was  very  eminent  and  success- 
fill.  He  had  a  good  degree  of  the  spirit  of  enterprise ; 
but  was  judicious  also,  so  that  his  opinions  relating 
to  any  commercial  plans  were  received  almost  as  pro- 
phecy. He  excelled  also  as  a  financier  and  as  a  politi- 
cal economist.  This  trait  in  his  character,  added  to  his 
general  information,  led  his  fellow  citizens  to  elect  him 
ror  public  service,  as  a  legislator.  He  was  a  Senator 
in  Massachusetts,  and  in  the  Congref '  the  United 
States.  He  was  also  offered  the  c  df  '  Secretary 
of  the  Navy  by  President  Adams,  hut  he  declined  it 
on  account  of  private  business.  In  the  last  fifteen 
years  of  his  life,  he  held  the  piace  of  President  of  an 
Insurance  Company  in  Boston  ;  and  his  opinions  and 
decisions  were  always  indicative  of  penetration  and 
good  judgment.  Mr.  Cabot  had  the  character  of  a 
sincere  and  intelligent  patriot.  He  belonged  to  the 
•chool  of  Washington,  in  his  political  creed.  In 
other  words,  he  was  a  true  republican ;  but  opposed 
to  ultra  democracy,  as  inconsistent  with  stability  in 


ILItBA  OAtXElfDCm. 


95 


the  gOTernment,  or  with  tlie  welfare  and  equal  righta 
of  the  people ;  and  as  eventually  leading  to  despo* 
tiam.  He  contended  for  constitutional  authority  and 
rule  in  opposition  to  popular  wishes  or  complaintS| 
produced  hy  misapprehension  of  the  design  and  ef* 
feet  of  particular  measures,  through  the  efforts  of  a 
few  ambitious  individuals.  He  sought  rather  the 
permanent  good  than  the  present  applause  of  the  peo« 
pie.  He  preferred  the  liberty,  which  the  constitution 
and  equal  laws  secured,  to  that  supported  by  unjust 
excitement  of  the  fears  or  ill  designs  of  a  party.  Mr^ 
Cabot  possessed  very  honorable  feelings,  and  bis  con* 
duct  gave  evidence  that  he  was  governed  by  correct 
moral  principles.  He  was  a  professor  of  religion, 
and  his  faith  had,  apparently,  a  great  influence  over 
his  conversation  in  all  the  relations  of  life.  He  died 
in  1823,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two. 

CALLENDER,  Rkv.  ELISHA  a  graduate  of 
Harvard  College  in  1710,  was  a  son  of  Rev.  Ellis 
Callender,  who  was  a  Baptist  minister  in  Boston  in 
the  early  part  of  the  last  century.  Elisha  was  setn 
tied  in  the  ministry  in  1718,  and  was  sometime  a 
colleague  paster  with  his  father.  Dr.  Increase  Math- 
er and  Dr.  Cotton  Mather,  congregational  ministers 
in  Boston,  assisted  in  his  ordination.  In  allnding  to 
this  circumstance,  Dr.  C.  Mather  says,  "  We  main- 
tain friendly  and  charitable  sentiments  towards  all 
pious  men;  and  set  down  to  the  table  of  our  Lord 
with  our  Baptist  brethren."  Fifty  and  sixty  years 
before  that  time — in  1660 — the  Baptists  were  severe* 
ly  persecuted  in  Neiv  England.  In  1780,  1790,  and 
after.  Rev.  Dr.  Thatcher,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Stillman 
often  exchanged  pulpits.  Rev.  Dr.  Wayland,  pre^ 
ident  of  BroT^n  University,  when  the  pastor  of  a 
Baptist  church  in  Boston,  preached  in  the  Brattle 
square  meeting  house,  much  to  the  satisfaction  of 
the  people  of  that  society.  


w 


96 


J.   CALLBKDfiR — J.   CAIVCS. 


CALLENDBR,  Rev.  JOHN  of  Newport,  Rhode 
Island^  and  a  nephew  of  Elisha,  received  his  educa- 
tion in  Harvard  Coltege  in  1723.  The  church  of 
which  he  became  minister  in  1731,  was  the  secood 
Baptist  church  in  Am^ica,  and  was  formed  in  1644. 
Mr.  Callender  died  in  the  year  1748,  at  the  age  of 
forty-two.  He  had  the  character  of  a  studious  and 
learned  man;  and  was  highly  esteemed  both  for 
piety  and  candor.  His  centennial  discourse  in 
1739  is  very  valuable,  and  contains  much  of  the 
early  history  of  Rhode  Island,  especially  in  ecclesi- 
astical  affairs.  He  also  published  a  sermon  deliver- 
ed on  the  death  of  Reverend  Mr.  Clapp,  a  Congre- 
Sational  minister  of  Newport,  in  1745 ;  and  on  the 
eath  of  Reverend  Mr.  Condy  of  Boston  in  1739, 
who  was  the  successor  of  Reverend  Elisha  Callen- 
der. Mr.  Callender  was  justly  esteemed  for  his  lib- 
eral views  in  religious  concerns;  laying  little  stress 
on  ontward  rites  and  forms,  or  speculative  opinions. 
It  would  be  happy  for  the  Christian  world,  if  this 
excellent  spirit  were  more  prevalent  than  it  has 
usually  been. 

CARVER,  JOHN  the  first  Governor  of  Plymouth 
Colony,  and  one  of  the  company  in  the  May-flower, 
which  arrived  in  November  1620,  deserves  notice, 
though  he  was  in  the  country  only  four  or  fivs 
months ;  having  died  in  April  next  following,  after 
a  short  illness.  He  was  chosen  Governor  in  No* 
vtmber,  soon  after  their  arrival  in  the  hari^r  of 
Cape  Cod.  And  in  March  following  was  again 
chosen  or  confirmed  in  that  office  for  the  ensuing 
year.  A  civil  compact,  of  the  nature  of  a  constitu- 
tion, was  drawn  up  and  signed  before  they  landed : 
for  they  had  come  to  a  territory  on  which  they  had 
not  intended  to  settle;  that  being  on  lands  then 
olasmed  by  the  Dutch,  at  or  near  Hudson  river, 
by  whom  they  were  encouraged  there  to  make  a 


I 


JOHN    CARTIft. 


«T 


rpoft,  Rhode 
dhiseduc*- 
e  churcb  of 
IS  the  secood 
tned  in  1644. 
,t  the  age  of 
itudioos  and 
ned  both  for 
discourse    ia 
much  of  the 
ly  in  ecclesi- 
rmon  delivcr- 
p,  a  Congre- 
; ;  and  on  the 
iton  in  1739, 
;Usha  Cellen- 
ed  for  his  lib- 
g  little  stress 
live  opinions, 
world,  if  this 
i  than  it  has 


r  of  Plymouth 
le  May-flower, 
serves  notice, 
'  four  or  five 
ollowing,  after 
vemor  in  No* 
the  harbor  of 
ig  was  again 
•r  the  ensuing 
of  a  constitu- 
they  landed : 
lich  they  had 
m  lands  then 
ludson    river, 
lere  to  make  a 


settlement ;  particularly  by  a  company  of  merchants 
in  Holland,  called  the  West  India  company,  and 
then  proposing  to  establish  a  colony  about  that  river. 
The  place  of  their  settlement,  being  soon  after 
known  to  be  within  the  patent  granted  to  the 
Plymouth  company  of  adventurers  in  England,  of 
the  territory  of  North  Virginia,  or  New  England, 
and  reaching  from  latitude  forty-one  to  forty-five ; 
they  procured  a  patent  from  that  company,  of  what 
has  since  been  usually  called  "  the  old  colony."  In 
their  compact  they  acknowledged  themselves  to  be 
the  subjects  of  king  James  I,  then  on  the  throne  of 
Great  Britain,  their  native  land.  For  they  did  not 
desire  to  denationalize  themselves.  They  also  pro- 
vided that  the  majority  should  govern,  and  that 
elections  should  be  annual— or  such  was  plainly 
the  implication  and  their  future  practice.  Their 
chief  objects  are  declared  to  be, — to  obtain  a  settle- 
ment for  themselves  and  posterity,  where  they  might 
worship  God  according  to  their  consciences,  and  to 
the  directions  of  his  holy  word ;  and  also  to  extend 
the  knowledge  and  blessings  of  Christianity  to  the 
pagans  and  savages.  Governor  Carver  was  one  of 
the  most  intelligent  and  discreet  men  of  the  com- 
pany ;  and  had  the  entire  confidence  of  all  the  mem- 
oers ;  which  was  necessary  to  the  peace  and  welfare 
of  the  colony.  For  if  even  honest  and  wise  rulers 
do  not  fully  enjoy  the  good  opinion  of  their  constit^ 
uents,  they  will  have  little  influence  in  preserving 
order  and  contentment.  Mr.  Carver  was  severu 
years  a  deacon  or  elder  of  Mr.  Robinson's  Church 
m  Holland :  and  on  two  occasions,  in  1618  and 
1619,  went  to  England  as  agent  for  the  society; 
once  with  R.  Cushman,  and  once  with  William 
Bradford,  to  obtain  a  patent  for  settlement  of  the 
company  in  Virginia.  A  grant  was  obtained  in 
1619,  of  thai  company;  but  being  taken  in  the 
narie  nf  a  person  who  afterwards  declined  coming 


VV  WILLIAM  CHANNmo. 

to  America,  it  proved  useless,  though  much  expense 
had  been  incurred  in  obtaining  it.  Next  to  Rev. 
Mr.  Robinson,  Carver  enjoyed  in  a  high  d^ree  the 
esteem  of  the  Leyden  Church  and  people.  The 
other  principal  characters  of  the  company  and 
colony  were  William  Brewster,  William  Bradford, 
Edward  Winslow,  Miles  Standish,  John  Alden, 
Isaac  Ailerton,  John  Howland,  Thomas  Prence,  and 
Stephen  Hopkins.  The  first  company  amounted 
only  to  one  hundred  and  one,  including  women, 
children,  and  a  few  servants  or  dependents. — 
Winslow,  Brewster  and  Hopkins  had  dependents  in 
their  families.  Others  were  added  to  the  plantation 
in  1621,  1623,  1624, 1629  and  1630,— among  whom 
were  William  Thomas,  Timothy  Hatherly,  William 
Collier,  and  George  Morton. 

CHANNING,  WILLIAM  belonged  to  one  of  the 
most  respectable  families  in  Newport,  Rhode  Island; 
his  father  and  grand-father  were  men  of  distinction 
and  influence  in  that  community.  His  parents 
were  religious  characters,  and  gave  their  children  a 
good  moral  education.  He  received  his  public  educa- 
tion in  Nassau  College,  with  the  class  of  1769.  Mr. 
Channing  chose  the  profession  of  law ;  and  ranked 
among  the  eminent  lawyers  in  his  native  State.  He 
was  also  frequently  employed  in  the  courts  in  Mas- 
sachusetts. He  was  Attorney  General  of  Rhode 
Island,  and  attorney  of  the  United  States  for  Rhode 
Island  District,  and  held  the  last  office  till  his  death 
in  1793.  Mr.  Channing  had  the  reputation  of  a 
sound  lawyer,  a  ready  and  impressive  speaker,  and 
one  perfectly  fair  and  honoraUe  in  his  practice. 
His  character  as  a  man  and  a  citizen,  was  without 
reproadh,  or  apparent  defect.  And  in  the  faniiy 
drole,  he  was  a  pattern  of  profMriety,  affection  and 
kteidness.  Candor  and  cheerfujaess,  and  a  desire  to 
please,  were  displayed  in  his  whole  deporUnent. 


:h  expense 
Kt  to  Rev. 

degree  the 
ople.  The 
tpany    and 

Bradford, 
hn  Alden, 
?rence,  and 

amounted 
ng  women, 
pendents. — 
pendents  in 
i  plantation 
long  whom 
ly,  William 


o  one  of  the 
lode  Island ; 
r  distinction 
iis   parents 
'  children  a 
ublic  educa- 
•  1769.     Mr. 
and  ranked 
» State.     He 
irts  in  Mas- 
ail  of  Rhode 
;s  for  Rhode 
ill  his  death 
utation  of  a 
speaker,  and 
lis  practice. 
VBB  without 
n  the  faniiy 
flection  and 
d  a  desire  to 
deportment. 


CBABLBS    CBAVNCT. 


He  died  at  the  age  of  forty-two,  in  the  career  of  use* 
fulness,  and  when  there  was  a  bright  prospect  to  his  , 
family  and  friends  of  many  years  of  honorable  and 
profitable  service.  His  sons  are  distinguished  among 
the  literary  and  benevolent  characters  of  the  present 
day.  His  oldest  was  a  distinguished  lawyer;  and  his 
second  is  the  pre-eminent  scholar,  writer,  divine, 
and  philanthropist,  known  throughout  Europe  as 
well  as  America. 

CHAUNOY,  Rev.  CHARLES  B.  D.  the  second 
president  of  Harvard  College,  to  which  place  he 
was  chosen  in  1654,  had  his  birth  and  education  in 
England.  He  was  born  in  1590,  and  received  the 
degree  of  Bacheldor  of  Divinity,  in  the  University 
of  Cambridge.  He  sometime  held  the  office  of  pro- 
fessor of  Hebrew,  and  then  of  Groek.  After  tnat, 
he  received  ordination  in  the  Episcopal  Church,  and 
preached  at  Ware  about  eight  years.  He  suffered 
much  from  the  arbitrary  conduct  of  the  bigotted 
archbishop  Laud,  and  others  of  the  high  church 
party  of  that  period.  He  continued  to  refuse  con- 
formity to  the  vain  ceremonies  imposed  by  the 
bishops ;  and  after  a  trial  for  schism,  a  heavy  fine 
was  laid  on  him,  and  his  imprisonment  followed,-— 
when  released,  he  departed  from  the  kingdom,  and 
came. to  Plymouth  in  1638.  He  continued  in  that 
town  two  or  three  years,  and  often  officiated  in  the 
Church,  in  connection^  with  Rev.  Mr.  Rayner,  who 
was  then  the  regular  minister  in  the  place.  From 
Plymouth  he  removed  to  Scituate,  in  the  same 
county,  and  there  remained  twelve  years  in  the 
character  of  pastor  of  that  Church.  He  and  his 
family  were  often  in  great  want,  so  that  in  writing 
to  a  friend  he  said,  "  we  are  destitute  even  of  bread." 
In  1654  he  was  chosen  President  of  Harvard  Col- 
lege, and  held  the  office  seventeen  years,  and  died  at 
the  advanced  age  of  eighty-two.    There  were  very 


100 


CBAlLn   ClIAONOr. 


few  men  more  learned  than  president  Cfiauncf. 
He  had  an  accurate  knowledge  of  the  Latin,  Greek 
and  Hebrew  languages ;  he  wrote  Latin  with  purity 
and  elegance }  and  in  theology  he  was  surpussed  by 
none.  It  is  not  a  little  remarkable,  that  the  two  first 
presidents  of  Harvard  College  had  diflferent  views 
from  the  clergy  very  generally  of  that  day,  who 
were  the  founders  and  fathers  of  that  Seminarv. 
Mr.  Chauncy  thought  the  mode  of  baptism  should 
be  by  immersion ;  and  his  predecessor,  Mr.  Dunster, 
disapproved  of  performing  the  rite  of  baptism  in 
any  mode  for  infants.  Their  election  and  contin* 
uauce  in  that  ofhce,  where  young  men  preparing  for 
the  Christian  ministry  were  under  their  tuition, 
afford  indications  of  more  liberality  of  sentiment  in 
religion,  than  our  puritan  ancestors  usually  exhib- 
ited. But  both  Dunster  and  Chauncy  were  very 
learned  men ;  and  were  also  laid  under  a  promise, 
that  they  would  not  interfere  with  the  opinions  or 
practice  of  others,  in  this  respect.  They  probably 
supposed  that  either  mode,  sprinkling  or  immersion, 
might  be  considered  a  Christian  baptism  ;  and  that 
immersion  was  not  essential,  and  that  the  baptism 
of  children  could  work  no  injury ;  as  no  profession 
or  outward  rite  is  sufficient  without  personal  holi- 
ness ;  or  a  full  conviction  that  it  was  the  command  of 
an  inspired  writer.  It  is  not  to  be-  supposed,  that 
they  yielded  to  the  wishes  of  the  governors  of  the 
College  for  the  sake  of  the  office  or  salary  of  a  pres- 
ident, but  from  a  catholic  and  conciliatory  spirit. 
One  of  the  great  evils  in  the  Christian  Church  has 
been  the  insisting  on  a  perfect  agreement  in  rites 
and  forms,  or  some  merely  speculative  tenets.  If 
there  was  more  charity,  and  more  stress  laid  on 
righteousness,  mercy  and  truth,  by  the  professed  dis- 
ciples of  Christ,  it  would  be  a  recommendation  of  his 
holy  religion ;  and  more  for  the  peace  and  prosperity 
of  the  Christian  world.     Several  of  the  sons  and 


a 


CBABLBt  CBAUNOT 


101 


Kodaons  of  president  ChauAcy  were  educated  in 
rvard  College  :  moet  of  whom  were  clergymen ; 
and  his  descendants  are  numerous  in  some  parts  of 
New  England. 

CHAUNCY,  Ret.  CHARLES  D.  D.  may  justly 
be  ranked  among  the  most  distinguished  scholars 
and  theologians  of  his  time.  He  had  carefully 
studied  the  different  systems  of  religion ;  and  few 
published  so  much  as  he  did  on  theological  and 
ecclesiastical  subjects.  He  studied  with  uncommon 
diligence  the  writings  of  the  Christian  fathers,  who 
wrote  in  the  second,  third  and  fourth  centuries,  and 
had  been  preserved  in  the  Church  to  modern  times. 
He  perused  them  with  due  respect,  but  in  the  ex- 
ercise of  good  judgment,  and  an  independent  spirit. 
It  is  the  tendency  of  knowledge  not  only  to  enlarge 
the  mind,  but  to  teaoh  us  charity  towards  those  who 
do  not  think  in  all  things  precisely  as  we  do.  Every 
one  imbued  with  the  Christian  spirit,  and  of  ex- 
tensive learning  and  reflection,  will  be  found  liberal 
in  his  views.  He  will  be  ready  to  say  with  the 
apostle  Peter,  after  his  supernatural  illumination, 
''  of  a  truth,  I  perceive  that  God  is  no  respecter  of 
persons ;  but  in  every  nation  ho  who  worsnips  him 
and  worketh  righteousness,  is  accepted  of  him." 
Dr.  Chauncy  attended  to  the  controversy  between 
Protestants  and  Roman  Catholics,  and  between 
Episcopalians  and  the  Puritans.  If  he  sometimes 
disputed  with  earnestness,  it  was  because  he  was 
satisfied  there  was  no  foundation  in  the  sacred  vol- 
ume for  so  great  a  difierence  in  the  priestly  office  aa 
the  Episcopalians  required,  and  no  divine  authority 
for  the  rites  and  forms  imposed  on  the  people  by  the 
canons  of  the  English  church ;  and  not  for  want  of 
a  truly  Christian  and  candid  spirit.  He  considered 
all  the  members  of  the  great  Christian  family  as 
brethren,  and  the  ministers  and  teachers  on  a  level, 
9* 


102 


ttttttL  CUtlTil. 


I 


as  to  their  functions  and  their  amhorHy.  His  pub- 
lications on  the  ▼aliditf  of  presbyterian  ordination, 
or  by  any  regular  ministers  m  the  Churches;  wef« 
quite  learned  and  elaborate;  and  were  generally 
tnoueht  unanswerable.  He  wrote  essays  on  the  be- 
nevoTence  of  the  Deity,  in  which  he  expressed  otfit« 
different  views  from  those  inculcated  in  the  Cafvin- 
istic  system.  He  rejected  the  doctrine  of  total  de- 
pravity, and  the  utter  malignity  of  human  nature; 
as  well  as  the  tenet  of  God's  purpose  to  punish  men 
forever  though  they  might  repent,  unless  a  full 
atonement  were  made  for  their  sms,  or  the  debt  due 
to  his  law  were  paid  by  another ;  and  the  guilt  in- 
curred by  transgression  laid  at  the  door  of  another, 
who  should  endure  the  weight  of  the  divine  wrath, 
which  such  guilt  merited.  He  also  believed  in  the 
final  restoration  of  all  intelligent  and  moral  beings 
to  goodness  and  to  happiness.  He  did  not  deny  a 
future  retribution,  but  believed  that  all  the  world 
hereafter  would  be  judged  according  to  their  works, 
whether  they  had  been  good  or  whether  they  had 
been  evil.  In  this  theory,  he  differed  from  most  of 
the  clergy  of  his  time.  Dr.  Chauncy  was  pastor  of 
the  first  and  oldest  Church  in  Boston  about  sixty 
years.  He  died  in  1787,  at  the  age  of  eighty-three. 
He  was  honored  wijh  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divini- 
ty by  the  University  of  Edinburgh.  His  extensive 
learning  as  a  theologian,  and  his  valuable  publica- 
tions, justly  entitled  him  to  this  distinction. 

OHEEVER,  EZEKIEL  was  an  eminent  in- 
structor for  many  years  at  New  Haven,  in  1639 ;  af- 
terwards at  Ipswich,  Charlestown  and  Boston  ;  and 
continued  in  that  useful  and  honorable  employment 
till  he  was  above  ninety  years  of  age,  and  seventy 
as  teacher.  He  taught  the  ancient  languages  with 
accuracy  and  success ;  and  prepared  a  greater  num- 
ber of  young  men  for  the  college  than  any  other  per- 


BINMMIII  OHUBOII. 


103 


ton  in  th€  eoootrv  of  his  time.  In  the  ooTemnient 
of  hit  pupils  also  hegaveevidencoof  good  judgment 
He  was  fond  of  the  business  of  teaching ;  and,  as 
might  be  supposed-  therefore,  was  successful  in  his 
efforts  to  win  nis  pupils  to  the  love  of  learning.  His 
scholars  were  the  best  fitted  of  any  sent  to  college— ' 
He  Wrote  a  Latin  grammar  and  accidence.  He  was 
a  very  pious  man — '"  a  Christian  of  iho  old  fashion," 
says  0.  Mather  in  1710,  who  had  been  his  pnpil, 
"  an  old  New  England  Christian  ;  and  such  an  one 
was  as  venerable  a  character  as  the  world  has  ever 
known  since  the  days  of  primitive  Christianity." — 
He  studied  the  prophecies  much,  and  all  other  parts 
of  tho sacred  scriptures;  and  was  an  able  defender  of 
the  faith  and  order  of  tho  gospol  as  held  in  New  Eng- 
land. Of  Mr.  Chcever,  and  Mr.  Corlet  another  emi- 
nent teacher  of  youth,  who  kept  the  grammar  school 
in  Cambridge  several  years,  Dr.  Mather  says, 

'Til  Corlttt'd  pain*  and  Cheevcr'a,  wa  must  own. 
That  thou,  New  England,  art  not  Scythia  grown. 

CHURCH,  BENJAMIN  celebrated  for  his  prowess 
in  defence  of  the  inhabitants  of  Plymouth  and  Massa- 
chusetts, in  the  war  excited  by  Philip,  in  1675  and 
'76,  was  born  in  Duxbiiry,  in  1639.  His  father  was 
an  inhabitant  of  that  town  for  several  years,  after 
having  lived  some  time  at  Watertown.  He  was  a 
carpenter ;  and  the  son  labored  in  the  same  occupa- 
tion in  the  early  part  of  his  life.  He  engaged  in  the 
contest  in  1675  ;  and  to  his  activity,  courage  and  in- 
telligence the  successful  result  of  the  war  was  in  a 
ereat  measure  owing.  The  war  was  strictly  one  of 
aefence,  and  to  prevent  a  total  destruction  of  the 
English  then  in  New  England,  or  their  abantlbnment 
of  the  country.  I'he  governments  of  Plymouth  and 
Massachusetts,  had  always  treated  the  native  In- 
dians with  justice  and  even  with  kindness.  Whenever 
individuals  of  the  English  encroached  on  their  lands 


104 


NATHANIEL  CLAP. 


or  attempted  to  injure  them,  the  government  listened 
to  their  complaints,  and  took  care  that  their  rights 
were  maintained.  There  was  no  resort  to  arms  by 
the  English,  till  there  was  evidence  that  Philip  had 
formed  a  combination  with  the  chiefs  of  all  the  other 
tribes  within  one  hundred  or  one  hundred  and  fifty 
miles,  for  the  extermination  of  the  former,  and  had 
slain  many  of  the  inhabitants,  and  burnt  n?uch  of 
their  property.  Church  Was  one  of  the  principal 
men  in  this  defensive  war;  though  wheuMt  began 
he  had  no  higher  commission  than  that  of  captain. 
Governor  Josiah  Winslow  was  the  commander  of  the 
English  forces ;  and  the  other  principal  officers  were 
Colonel  James  Cudworthof  Scituate,  Major  William 
Bradford  of  Plymouth,  and  Major  Appleton  of  Massa- 
chusetts. Captain  Church  commanded  the  party, 
one  of  whom  shot  Philip  in  1676,  after  several  days 
of  pursuit  performed  with  great  diligence  and  cour- 
age. Some  years  later,  Church  held  a  commission 
as  Major,  and  then  as  Colonel  in  expeditions  against 
the  Indians  in  different  parts  of  Maine,  in  which  be 
discovered  much  bravery,  and  met  with  great  suc- 
sess.  Owing  to  his  activity  and  promptness,  the 
few  inhabitants  in  those  parts  were  often  protected 
when  iminently  exposed  to  the  attacks  of  the  sav- 
ages. As  late  as  1710  and  1711,  he  was  sent  to  the 
eastward  for  the  purpose  of  defending  the  scattered 
settlers  on  the  Kennebec  and  Penobscot,  and  near 
Casco  bay.  The  first  and  early  settlers  of  Ply- 
mouth and  Massachusetts  were  not  disposed  to  war- 
like operations,  but  quite  the  reverse — they  were  of 
a  pious  and  pacific  spirit.  It  appears  fortunate  that 
some  individuals  were  raised  up  for  their  defence 
and  safety. 

CLAP,  Rev.  NATHANIEL  a  native  of  Dorches- 
ter, born  in  1668,  and  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College, 
1690,  was  settled  in  the  ministry  at  Newport,  State 


THOSIAS  cLiP. 


lOff 


;nt  listened 
heir  rights 
to  arms  by 
Philip  had 
II  the  other 
d  and  fifty 
r,  and  had 
It  n!iich  of 
e  principal 
nMt  began 
»f  captain, 
nder  of  the 
flUcers  were 
ior  William 
[1  of  Massa- 
the  party, 
veral  days 
and  cour- 
:omraission 
ons  against 
a  which  be 
great  suc- 
)tness,  the 
1  protected 
f  the  sav- 
sent  to  the 
te  scattered 
,  and  near 
rs  of  Ply- 
sed  to  war- 
ley  were  of 
unate  that 
isir  defence 


>f  Dorches- 
ird  College, 
port,  State 


of  Rhode  Island,  and  continued  in  that  ^  place  and 
station  for  forty  years.  He  died  in  1745,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-six.  He  was  much  esteemed  for  his  learn- 
ing and  piety.  He  was  respectable  as  a  scholar 
and  theologian ;  and  was  always  held  in  high  estima- 
tion for  his  fidelity  as  a  Christian  minister.  In 
his  deportment,  he  had  macb  of  the  character  of  the 
first  settlers  of  New  England,  who  were  truly  re- 
ligious men,  and  made  it  their  great  aim  to  imitate 
the  manners  and  conduct  of  the  primitive  Christians. 
But  while  he  was  exemplary,  aud  sometimes  very 
strict  in  family  gov^nment,  and  in  his  own  personal 
behavior,  he  was  candid  and  mild  towards  others, 
particularly  the  young,  whom  he  endeavored  to  win 
to  the  love  and  practice  of  virtue.  In  his  desire  to 
instruct  and  improve  them,  he  encouraged  their  en- 
quiries, on  ail  proper  occasions  and  subjects,  and 
taught  them  that  knowledge  which  tended  most 
directly  to  their  moral  and  religious  advancement.  > 

CLAP,  Rev.  THOMAS  was  born  in  Scituate,  Mas- 
sachusetts, June  1703,  and  received  his  first  degree 
in  Harvard  College  in  17:^2.  His  natural  talents 
were  great,  and  he  was  always  distinguished  for  his 
discriminating  powers,  and  for  good  judgment.  He 
attended  to  the  usui.l  studies  in  the  Cullegu  with  dili- 
gence ;  and  graduated  with  the  reputation  of  a  good 
classical  scholar.  But  he  excelled  most  others  of  his 
contemporaries  in  the  mathematics,  astronomy  and 
natural  philosophy.  John  Winthrop,  who  was  grad- 
uated in  1730,  and  was  long  the  professor  of  mathe- 
matics in  that  seminary,  was  the  only  scholar  of  that 
period  who  surpassed  Mr.  Clap  in  his  study  and 
knowledge  of  the  exact  sciences.  Mr.  Clap  was  or- 
dained over  the  church  and  society  in  Windham, 
Connecticut,  wherelie  continued  thirteen  years,  when 
he  was  chosen  president  of  Yale  College.  In  this 
responsible  and   honorable  station  he  remained  for 


I 


106 


ROGER  CLAP. 


( 


the  period  of  twenty-seven  years ;  he  resigned  in 
1766,  and  died  a  (ew  months  after.  His  learning 
was  extensive  and  accurate ;  ho  was  well  acquaint- 
ed with  history,  theology  and  philosophy  : — he  read 
much ;  and  was  also  a  profound  thinker  and  reason- 
er;  so  that  he  was  not  only  learned  but  a  thorough 
scholar.  He  had  all  the  qualifications  for  the  priur 
cipal  of  a  literary  seminary :  and  many  good  schol- 
ars received  their  education  in  Yale  College  under 
his  presidency.  In  his  time,  the  president  of  that 
College  took  part  in  the  instruction,  and  was  the  prin- 
cipal teacher  of  theology  and  ecclesiastical  history. 

CLAP,  ROGER  was  one  of  the  company  by  which 
Dorchester  was  settled  in  June  1630.  This  compa- 
ny consisted  of  persons  from  the  west  of  England, 
a  distance  from  Suffolk  and  Kent  counties,  from 
which  those  came  who  accompanied  Winthrop,  and 
settled  at  Charlcstown,  Watertown  and  Boston,  the 
same  year.  They  were  somewhat  distinct  from  the 
company  of  which  Winthrop  was  chosen  Governor, 
in  England  ;  but  were  Puritans  or  non-conformists, 
and  therefore  fully  sympathised  with  the  settlers  in 
Boston,  Charlestown  and  Watertown.  And  soon 
after  their  arrival,  they  all  united  in  one  civil  gov- 
ernment, and  acted  together  in  their  ecclesiastical 
affairs.  Ludlow  and  Stoughton,  of  the  Dorchester 
company,  were  of  the  board  of  assistants  from  the 
first.  Mr.  Clap  was  only  twenty-one  years  of  age 
when  he  emigrated  from  England.  But  he  was  re- 
markable even  tnen  for  sobriety,  good  judgment  and 
.firmness  of  character.  The  inhabitants  of  Dorches- 
ter early  employed  him  in  public  affairs,  in  which 
he  was  always  found  active  and  faithful.  They 
often  chose  him  representative  to  the  general  assem- 
bhr ;  and  he  was  sometime  the  commanding  officer 
of  the  garrison  on  Castle  Island,  in  the  harbor  of 
Boston,  by  appointment  of  the  Governor  and  assist- 


JOHN  CLABEB. 


lor 


esigned  in 
is  learning 
1  acquaint- 
: — he  read 
ind  reason- 
%  thorough 
»r  the  prinr 
50od  schol- 
lege  under 
ent  of  that 
as  the  prin- 
l  history. 

ly  by  which 
his  compa- 
f  England, 
inties,  from 
nthrop,  and 
Boston,  the 
ct  from  the 
[1  Governor, 
;onformists, 
settlers  in 
And  soon 
civil  gov- 
cclesiastical 
Dorchester 
ts  from  the 
ears  of  age 
he  was  re- 
Igment  and 
f  Dorchcs- 
in  whieh 
ful.    They 
leral  assem- 
ding  officer 
harbor  of 
and  assist- 


ants. He  preserved  a  record  of  many  interesting 
events  which  occurred  in  the  early  days  of  the  Col- 
ony, which  have  been  published  since  his  time,  by 
those  who  have  undertaken  to  write  the  history  of 
the  first  settlement  of  Massachusetts.  He  survived 
to  the  age  of  eighty-two. 

CLARKE.  Rev.  JOHN  D.  D.  was  a  native  of 
Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire  ;  and  received  his  first 
degree  in  Harvard  College,  1774,  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen. While  a  member  of  College,  his  conduct  was 
correct  and  exemplary,  and  he  had  the  reputation 
of  a  diligent  student  and  good  classical  scholar.  He 
made  choice  of  the  ministerial  profession  when  in 
College ;  and  his  reading,  especially  the  two  last 
years  of  his  residence  there,  had  reference  to  theolo- 
gy. He  ranked  among  the  first  scholars  of  his  class, 
though  there  were  several  of  high  literary  distinction. 
He  settled  in  the  ministry  in  1778,  as  colleague  with 
Dr.  d  Chauncy,  over  the  first  church  in  Boston. 
The  members  of  his  society  were^greatly  attached  to 
him,  for'his  pleasant  and  amiable  qualities,  as  well  as 
for  his  fervent  devotion  and  his  elegant  sermons.  But 
though  he  wrote  in  a  very  pure  and  finished  style, 
his  discourses  were  evangelical  and  impressive.  He 
was  a  hard  student ;  and  bestowed  more  than  or- 
dinary time  and  labor  in  preparing  his  addresses  for 
the  pulpit.  Soon  after  his  decease  a  volume  of  his 
sermons  was  published ;  and  they  are  fully  equal  to 
most  of  those  published  in  England  at  that  period. 
In  his  devotional  services  he  was  very  appropriate 
and  correct ;  and  it  was  understood  that  h*?  public 
prayers  were  not  entirely  extemporaneous,  but  pre- 
viously meditated  and  prepared.  Yet  they  discov- 
ered a  solemn,  devout  spirit,  such  as  ever  becomes 
men,  in  their  direct  approaches  to  the  Deity.  His 
church  was  always  well  attended »  on  the  Lord's 


1 .. 


109 


ELISHA   COOKB. 


I 


I 

I 


day ;  but  he  had  fc^xr  other  religions  meetings.  He 
was  a  member  of  several  learned  and  benevolent 
societies ;  in  all  of  which  he  was  attentive  and  ac- 
tive; and  his  life  was  an  useful  one,  though  he  died 
at  the  early  age  of  forty-two. 

Dr.  Clafke  had  a  taste  for  polite  literature,  and 
Vas  well  acquainted  with  the  best  English  writers  of 
history,  ethics,  and  poetry.  His  other  publications 
consisted  of  several  discourses  on  funeral  occasions  ; 
and  a  large  pamphlet,  being  an  answer  to  the  ques- 
tion, why  are  you  a  Christian?  of  which  several 
editions  were  published  in  Enghnd. 

COBB,  DAVID  a  native  of  Taunton,  and  alumnus 
of  Harvard  College,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1766, 
held  several  important  public  offices,  as  a  legislator, 
and  a  soldier;  and  was  many  years  also  a  practicing 
physician.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  political 
disputes  between  Great  Britain  and  her  American 
colonies;  and  when  war  Was  commenced  in -1775, 
he  entered  into  the  military  service,  as  a  field  officer. 
He  acted  as  secretary  of  a  large  county  convention 
in  Bristol  County,  in  1774,  to  devise  measures  for 
the  preservation  of  civil  liberty.  He  was  then  twen- 
ty-eight years  of  age ;  and  a  few  years  before  had 
prepared  for  the  medical  profession.  He  was  also  a 
member  of  the  Prr  .Mncial  Congress  of  Massachusetts 
in  1776,  a  few  months  before  there  was  a  resort  to 
arms.  For  several  years,  he  belonged  to  the  mili- 
tary family  of  General  Washington,  the  commander 
in  chief  of  the  American  army  during  the  warof  tlie 
Revolution.  Washington  had  great  regard  for  him, 
and  confided  in  him,  as  a  brave  and  faithful  officer. 
After  the  war  was  over,  Colonel  Cobb  became  Ma- 
jor-General  of  militia  in  the  Old  Colony,  as  the 
southern  counties  were  called.  He  was  several  years 
a  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Pleas  in  the  county  of  Bris- 


BBNJANIN  COLMAN. 


109 


ings.    He 
)enevolent 

e  and  ac- 
;h  he  died 

aiturc,  and 
I  writers  of 
Liblications 
occasions ; 
►  the  qnes- 
ch   several 


id  alumnus 
ted  in  1766, 
SI  legislator, 
a  practicing 
he  political 
r  American 
ed  in  -1776, 
field  ollicer. 
convention 
neasures  for 
3  then  twen- 
before  had 
!  was  also  a 
fissachnsetts 
a  resort  to 
o  the  mili- 
commander 
c  war  of  the 
ard  for  him, 
thful  officer. 
>ecame  Ma- 
ony,   as  the 
«veral  years 
inty  of  Bris- 


tol :  Representative  to  Congress  from  1789  to  1796  ; 
a  member  of  the  Senate  and  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives in  Massachusetts ;  and  sometime  speaker 
of  the  latter,  and  president  of  the  former ;  and  after- 
ward a  member  of  the  Executive  Council,  and  Lieut. 
Governor  for  the  year  1809.  He  had  a  great  knowl- 
edge of  the  world,  and  was  a  very  entertaining  com- 
panion :  and  was  justly  esteemed  as  an  honest  and 
honorable  man.  He  professed  faith  in  the  Christian 
revelation,  and  was  attached  to  the  forms  of  the 
Episcopal  church,  but  had  charity  for  all  virtuous 
men.  In  the  capacity  of  physician,  he  appeared  well 
informed  and  skilful,  but  was  sometimes  deemed  bold 
in  his  treatment  of  diseases.  He  died  in  the  year 
1828,  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine. 

COLMAN,  Rev.  BENJAMIN  D.  D.  received  his 
education  in  Harvard  College,  and  graduated  in 
1692 ;  and  was  the  first  minister  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church  and  society  in  Brattle  square,  Boston, 
Massachusetts.  After  he  received  his  degree,  he  vis- 
ited England,  and  there  passed  a  few  years ;  where 
he  became  acquainted  with  several  learned  clergy- 
men, of  the  non-conformist  order.  He  was  ordained 
over  the  society  in  Boston  in  the  year  1699.  But 
the  society  was  so  formed,  as  to  meet  the  disappro- 
bation of  most  of  the  congregrational  clergy  of  that 
period.  The  covenant  was  drawn  up  in  very  gener- 
al terms ;  instead  of  requiring  the  Calvinistic  tenets, 
it  insisted  only  on  receiving  the  sacred  scriptures  as 
the  only  rule  of  faith  and  practice,  and  following  the 
instructions  thereof,  as  they  understood  them,  or 
might  thereafter  understand  them.  Many  deemed 
this  declaration  as  not  sufficiently  precise  and  defi- 
nite, but  as  giving  too  great  latitude  of  opinion ;  and 
no  greater  authority  in  the  afiairs  of  the  society,  as 
to  choosing  the  minister,  was  in  the  members  of  the 
church  than  in  other  persons  of  the  society,  who 
10 


110 


BENJAMIN  COLMAN. 


r  ! 


1  ' 

i\ 


there  statedly  worshipped,  and  assisted  in  the  pay- 
ment  of  the  salary  of  the  pastor.   This  was  a  great  de- 
viation from  the  usual  practice,  as  the  members  of  the 
church  always  took  the  lead  in  the  choice  of  a  minister, 
and  thus  were  able  to  prevent  the  election  of  one  whom 
the  majority  of  the  society  might  prefer.      It  was 
generally  considered  a  dangerous  innovation  on  the 
peculiar  rights  of  the  members  of  the  church,  as  then 
p  acticcd,  and  approved  by  the  congregational  cler- . 
gy.     Most  pastors  of  churches  in  Massachusetts  con- 
demned the   proceedings ;    and  withheld    religious 
communion  and  intercourse  with  this  church  :  but 
Dr.  Colman  was  not  only  a  learned  and  eloquent 
man,  but  of  great  prudence  and  candor ;  and  the  op- 
position to  his  church  soon  ceased.    In  the  middle 
and  latter  part  of  his  life,  there  was  the  most  friendly 
intercourse  between  him  and  the  other  pastors  of 
churches.      He  was  very  accomplished  in  his  man- 
ners, and  gentlemanly  in  his  deportment ;  and  quite 
popular  as  a  pulpit  orator.     For  twenty-seven  years 
he  had,  as  a  colleague  Rev.  William  Cooper,  but  he 
survived  him  four  years,  and  died  in  1747,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-four.     Rev.  Samuel  Cooper,  a  son  of  Wil- 
liam Cooper  above  named,  was  settled  as  the  col- 
league of  Dr.  Colman  in  1746.    Several  discourses 
delivered   by  Dr.  Colman  on  particular  occasions, 
were  published — as  election  sermons,  at  the  funeral 
of  eminent  public  characters,  and  at  ordinations. — 
His  style  was  polished  and  sententious ;  alike  free 
from  bombast  and  vulgarity :  he  evidently  paid  some 
attention  to  the  choice  of  words  and  the  construction 
of  his  sentences,  but  did  not  sacrifice  simplicity  or 
strength  to  merely  a  polished  diction.     Dr.  Colman 
was  an  efficient  friend  of  Harvard  College  ;  and  was 
chosen  to  the  place  of  president,  on  the  death  of  the 
learned  Leverett ;  but  his  society  was  much  opposed 
to  his  removal  from  them  as  their  pastor ;  and  he 
was  too  much  attached  to  them  to  leave  them  with- 
out their  consent. 


ILI8HA  COOIB. 


Ill 


he  pay- 
jreat  de- 
irsofthe 
ninister, 
le  whom 

It  was 
I  on  the 
,  as  then 
nal  cler- 
etts  con- 
religious 
fch  :  but 
eloquent 
d  the  op- 
e  middle 
t  friendly 
castors  of 
his  man- 
and  quite 
ren  years 
;r,  but  he 
it  the  age 
nofWil- 
i  the  col- 
liscourses  ( 
>ccasions,  j 
le  funeral  > 
iations. —  | 
ailike  free  t 
)aid  some  l 
istruction  i 
iplicity  or  * 

Colman 

and  was 
ith  of  the 
1  opposed 

;  and  he 
lem  with- 


GOOKE,  ELISH  A  Esq.,  a  citizen  of  Boston,  near 
the  end  of  the  17th  century,  was  an  active  and 
leading  member  of  the  House  of  Representatives  in 
Massachusetts, in  1681,  and  atone  time  the  speaker. 
He  had  popular  talents,  and  was  a  man  of  the  peo- 
ple. He  was  distinguished  chiefly  for  opposing  the 
royal  governors,  and  contending  for  rights  and  liber- 
ties believed  to  be  infringed  by  them. 

Elisha  Cooke,  Jr.,  son  of  the  former,  was  much  in 

{mblic  life ;  and,  like  his  father,  a  warm  friend  of 
iberty  and  the  people.  He  was  speaker  of  the 
House  of  Representatives,  in  1715.  He  made  him- 
self conspicuous  in  opposing  a  fixed  and  stated  sala- 
ry for  Governor  Shute,  in  1720-24. 

The  governors  appointed  by  the  crown  were  in- 
structed to  require  a  stated  salary ;  and  several  of 
them  urged  the  measure  with  all  their  ability.  But 
the  patriots  of  that  period  were  opposed  to  it,  and 
chose  rather  to  make  occasional  grants  for  their  sup- 
port, as  otherwise  it  was  feared  they  would  be  less 
disposed  to  consult  the  welfare  of  the  province.  Mr. 
Cooke  was  at  the  head  of  the  patriotic  citizens  who 
declined  providing  a  fixed  salary ;  and  he  had  a 
great  influence  with  the  majority  of  the  representa- 
tives. He  also  had  much  influence  at  town  meetings, 
not  infeftor  to  that  of  James  Otis,  Jr.  or  Samuel 
Adams,  in  1770. 

Mr.  Cooke  went  to  England  in  1723,  as  agent  for 
the  House  of  Representatives  ;  but  was  not  favora- 
bly noticed  by  the  Court  party.  He  was  required 
to  make  out  a  sufficient  argument  for  opposing 
the  instructions  of  the  Crown,  respectinga  fixed  sal- 
ary for  the  governor  :  for  at  that  time  in  England 
the  prerogative  of  the  king  was  allowed  ;  his  instruc- 
tions had  the  authority  of  law.  To  deny  or  doubt 
his  prerogative,  was  no  way  to  procure  a  cause.  Mr. 
Cooke  obtained  nothing  by  this  agency,  either  of  fa- 
vor to  himself,  or  of  benefit  to  the  people.    It  was 


112 


SAMUEL  COOPBR. 


II 


I 

! 

( 


believed  in  England  that  Mr.  Cooke  was  a  vain  and 
ambitious  man,  and  had  personal  prejudices  towards 
the  governor.  And  as  the  royal  prerogative  was 
made  a  question,  or  greatly  limited  by  the  doctrine 
of  Mr.  Cooke,  his  complaints  of  Governor  Shute 
were  disregarded.  Cooke  was  desirous  of  political 
influence — no  very  uncommon  thing — ana  as  he 
could  not  persuade  nor  intimidate  Gov.  Shute,  he 
became  both  his  personal  and  political  enemy.  Mr. 
Shute  had  a  strong  dislike  of  the  professed  patriot — 
which  led  him  to  say  :  "I  will  see  who  shall  be 
Governor,  Mr.  Cooke  or  myself." 

COOPER,  Rev.  SAMUEL  D.  D.  was  a  son  of  the 
Rev.  William  Cooper,  and^one  of  the  ministers  of 
Brattle  street  church,  in  Boston,  being  sometime  a 
colleague  with  Dr.  Colman.  Dr.  Cooper  was  an  ac- 
complished man  and  a  zealous  patriot,  as  well  as  a 
very  eloquent  and  popular  preacher.  I^e  had  his 
first  degree  in  Harvard  College,  in  1743  ;  and  was 
settled  as  a  colleague  to  Dr.  Colman  in  1746 ;  his 
father  having  died  the  year  before.  He  was  unwil- 
ling to  be  settled  so  young,  but  was  pressed  to  it  by 
his  friends  of  the  society.  Dr.  Colman  died  soon  af- 
ter the  ordination  of  Mr.  Cooper.  He  was  one  of  the 
most  popular  preachers  of  his  time.  His  composition 
was  elegant,  and  his  elocution  far  surpassing  most 
ministers  of  that  period.  He  was  not  so  argumenta- 
tive or  solid  as  Dr.  Mayhew  or  Dr.  Chauncy,  but 
more  eloquent  and  more  agreeable  to  the  great  body 
of  the  people.  In  his  devotional  services,  he  was 
very  appropriate  and  impressive.  In  this  respect  he 
surpassed  all  the  clergy  of  his  day.  The  ministers 
generally  took  an  interest  in  politics,  and  in  the  dis- 
pute with  Great  Britain ;  and  Dr.  Cooper  was  among 
the  most  zealous.  He  was  often  invited  to  preach 
on  public  occasions,  by  the  people  of  Boston,  and  by 
the  General  Court.    He  received  the  degree  of  Doc- 


JOHN    COTTON. 


113 


ain  and 
;owaTd8 
,ve  was 
ioctrine 
r  Shute 

rlitical 
as  he 
hute,  he 
y.  Mr. 
)atriot — 
shall  be 


on  of  the 
tisters  of 
metime  a 
as  an  ac- 
well  as  a 
}  had  his 
I  and  was 
746 ;  his 
BIS  unwil- 
d  to  it  by 
I  soon  af- 
)ne  of  the 
mposition 
sing  most 
gumenta- 
ucy,  but 
reat  body 
he  was 
aspect  he 
ministers 
n  the  dis- 
as  among 
to  preach 
n,  and  by 
e  of  Doc- 


tor of  Divinity  from  Edinburgh  as  well  as  Cambridge 
University ;  and  for  many  years  was  a  member  of 
the  corporation.  On  the  death  of  the  President,  he 
was  chosen  to  fill  his  place,  but  did  not  accept,  as 
his  people  were  opposed  to  it. 

COTTON,  Rev.  JOHN  who  came  to  Massachu- 
setts in  the  year  1633,  and  settled  in  Boston  as  col- 
league with  Rev.  Mr.  Wilson,  in  the  Christian  min- 
istry there,  so  continued  nineteen  years,  and  till  his 
death,  1652,  aged  sixty-seven,  was  a  very  eminent 
character  at  that  period.  He  had  great  influence 
over  the  churches  and  the  clergy  ;  and  he  was  justly 
esteemed  as  a  learned  and  able  theologian  ;  and  he  was 
a  forcible  preacher,  of  great  knowledge  and  zeal. 
He  inculcated  the  peculiar  doctrines  of  the  Calvinis- 
tic  system,  as  essential,  and  insisted  on  the  reception 
of  them  as  indispensable  to  form  the  Christian  char- 
acter. He  urged  them  so  prominently,  as  to  subject 
himself  to  the  charge  of  antinomianism ;  and  many 
of  the  clergy,  including  Mr.  Wilson,  his  colleague, 
opposed  him  in  some  of  the  views  he  entertained. 
In  order  to  exalt  the  grace  of  God,  he  often  used  ex- 
pressions calculated  to  disparage  morality,  and  to 
render  a  life  of  righteousness  not  entirely  necessary. 
He,  no  doubt,  was  a  pious  and  holy  man ;  but  im- 
proper conclusions  were  sometimes  drawn  from  his 
expressions ;  and  the  antinomians,  who  laid  no  stress 
on  a  good  life  as  proof  of  real  religion,  took  advan-; 
tageofMr.  Cotton's  preaching  to  rest  iheir  claims^ 
to  the  Christian  character  on  faith  alone,  or  on ' 
the  profession  of  faith ;  and  to  deny  religion  to  all 
who  did  not  feel  and  believe  as  they  did.  This  is' 
generally  the  error  of  high  Calvinists.  They  con- 
tend that  the  admission  of  the  peculiar  doctrines  of 
that  system  is  essential  to  all  sincere  piety  and  virtue. 
That  such  belief  is  an  indispensable  foundation  on 
which  to  raise  the  true  Christian  character.  They 
10» 


114 


JMUH  COTTON. 


are  seaaible  of  the  good  influence  of  the  doctrinei 
they  embrace,  some  of  which  are  true,  and  are  common 
to  all  sects  of  Christians,  and  hastily  conclude  that 
the  peculiar  and  speculative  tenets  of  Calvin  are 
therefore  essential  to  sincere  piety  and  goodness, 
when  it  is  most  evident  that  the  rejection  of  some 
of  the  Calvinistic  doctrines  do  not  at  all  affect  the  re- 
ligious character  of  men  ;  and  that  the  faith  neces- 
sary to  render  one  truly  religious  is  more  simple,  and 
requires  but  few  doctrines  as  fundamental.  He  who 
believes  in  the  existence  and  moral  attributes  of  God, 
and  his  righteous  government  of  the  world,  in  the  ac- 
countability of  man,  in  the  divine  mission  and  author- 
ity of  Christ;  and  thus  makes  his  declarations  and  pre- 
cepts the  guide  of  life  and  standard  of  religious  truth 
and  duty — he  is  a  sincere  Christian,  though  he  differ 
from  Aihanaaius  or  Calvin ;  and  it  is  assuming  a 
right  which  no  fallible  man  can  justly  claim,  to  shut 
the  door  of  heaven  against  those  who  do  not  assent 
to  their  peculiar  views  or  creeds. 

The  more  judicious  laymen  of  that  day  joined 
with  Mr.  Wilson  when  there  was  any  difference  of 
sentiment  between  him  and  Mr.  Cotton.  They  agreed 
-with  Mr.  Wilson  in  opposing  the  reveries  of  Mrs. 
Hutchinson,  who  condemned  most  of  the  ministers 
of  that  period  as  legal  preachers.  She  was  a  con- 
ceited woman,  and  laid  great  stress  on  dreams  and 
on  her  own  imagination,  pretending  that  she  had 
superior  revelations  from  heaven,  and  knew  the 
truths  of  religion  far  better  than  any  others.  Her 
extravagant  conduct  caused  much  confusion  in '  the 
churches  in  and  near  Boston.  Mr.  Wilson,  Govern- 
or Winthrop,  and  some  others,  opposed  her.  But  Mr. 
Cotton  was  too  ready  to  apologize  for  her,  if  he  did 
not  agree  to  her  erroneous  opinions. 

COTTON,  JOSIAH  Esq.  was  a  native  of  Ply- 
mouth, a  son  of  Rev.  John  Cotton  j  of  that  place,  and 


LBMUSL  OOZ. 


115 


octrinef 
tommon 
de  that 
vin  are 
x>dness, 
of  some 
t  the  re- 
i  necea- 
ple,  and 
He  who 
I  of  God, 
I  theac- 
1  author- 
and  pre- 
>us  truth 
he  differ 
luming  a 
t,  to  shut 
)t  assent 

ly  joined 
erence  of 
)y  agreed 
of  Mrs. 
ministers 
a  con- 
iBims  and 
she  had 
new  the 
(rs.    Her 
n  in  the 
Govern- 
But  Mr. 
f  he  did 


srandton  of  the  "famous"  John  Cotton,  minister  of  the 
first  Church  in  Boston.  He  had  a  degree  in  Harvard 
College,  in  the  year  1698.  Two  of  his  brothers 
were  there  educated  also,  John  and  Roland.  The 
first  was  pastor  of  the  church  at  Yarmouth,  and  the 
other  of  the  church  in  Sandwich.  He  studied  theol- 
ogy, and  preached  occasionally  for  several  years  : 
but  was  not  ordained  over  any  church.  He  devoted 
himself  in  early  life  to  the  useful  and  intellectual 
employment  of  teaching  youth ;  first  in  Marblehead, 
ana  afterwards  in  his  native  town.  He  gave  at- 
tention also  to  agriculture,  and  had  a  good  farm 
in  the  north  part  of  Plymouth,  near  the  bounds  of 
Kingston.  His  father  spent  much  time  in  preaching 
to  the  Indians  in  Plymouth  Colony,  about  1670- 
1680,  and  became  acquainted  with  their  language : 
and  he  should  be  ranked  with  Mayhew,  Eliot,  and 
Bourne,  the  other  early  preachers  to  the  aborigi- 
nes. The  son  also  studied  the  Indian  language, 
and  acquired  considerable  knowledge  of  it,  for  the 
purpose  of  being  the  better  able  to  teach  that  igno- 
rant race  of  men.  With  and  after  his  father,  he  visit- 
ed various  tribes  in  Plymouth  Colony,  in  the  charac- 
ter of  a  missionary ;  and  his  labors  were  deemed 
beneficial  to  them.  8ome  were  evidently  influenced 
by  the  pure  and  mild  doctrines  of  the  gospel ;  but  on 
most  of  them,  the  labors  of  the  Christian  minister 
were  of  little  avail.  Mr.  Cotton  filled  several  civil 
offices,  as  Clerk  of  the  County  Court,  Register  of 
Probate,  and  Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  died  in  1756, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-seven.  He  prepared  a  vocab- 
ulary of  the  language  of  the  Massachusetts  Indians. . 
His  son,  John  Cotton,  wrote  an  account  of  the  Ley- 
den  and  Plymouth  church,  which  is  published  in 
the  fourth  volume  of  the  Historical  Collections. 


of  Ply- 
>lace,  and 


COX,  LEMUEL  was  an  ingenious  mechanic,  and 
the  master  builder  of  the  bridge,  over  Charles  river, 


116 


BICHABD   CBANCH. 


from  Boston  to  Charlestown,  erected  in  1786 ;  though 
the  model  was  conformable  to  the  bridse  built  over 
York  river,  in  Maine,  in  1761,  by  Major  Samuel 
Sewall,  of  the  town  of  York.  Major  Sewall  was 
first  consulted  byr  the  proprietors  as  to  the  model  of 
the  bridge,  and  the  probability  of  its  standing,  against 
the  current  and  ice.  That  over  York  river  is  only 
270  feet  long  and  25  wide — that  over  the  Charles 
is  15U(I  feet  in  length  and  43  in  width.  The  latter 
was  about  thirteen  months  in  the  building.  Mr. 
Cox  had  great  reputation  for  skill  and  judgment  in 
his  business ;  while  Sewall  furnished  the  plan,  he 
constructed  it  in  a  strong  and  workmanlike  manner: 
and  received  great  praise  for  the  work.  The  bridge 
from  Beverly  and  Salem,  and  that  over  Mystic  river 
to  Maiden,  were  built  by  Mr.  Cox,  and  on  the  same 
plan  as  that  over  Charles  river ;  and  were  erected 
within  three  years  after  the  last  named.  Soon  af- 
terwards, Mr.  Cox  was  encouraged  to-go  to  Europe  for 
the  purpose  of  directing  the  construction  of  bridges. 
The  celebrated  bridge  at  Waterford,  in  Ireland,  was 
built  under  his  direction  and  superintendence ;  as 
were  some  others  in  England.  These  bridges  were 
built  over  rivers  of  considerable  extent;  and  where 
it  had  been  supposed  they  could  not  stand. 

CRANCH,  Hon.  RICHARD  resided  in  that  part 
of  Braintree,  now  called  Q,uincy,  where  he  died  in 
1800,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four.  He  did  not  re- 
ceive a  collegiate  education ;  but  might  be  said  to 
have  been  a  well  educated  man.  He  had  early  lit- 
erary advantages,  which  he  wisely  improved ;  and 
was  in  a  great  measure  his  own  teacher :  as  ever^ 
one  must  be,  if  he  would  acquire  much  useful 
knowledge,  or  make  progress  in  the  arts  and  sciences. 
Mr.  Cranch  was  a  watchmaker,  and  generally  dis- 
covered a  mechanical  genius.  He  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  American  academy  of  Arts  and 


JAMM     CUOWOITH. 


117 


though 
ilt  over 
Samuel 
ill  was 
lodel  of 
against 

is  only 
Charles 
le  latter 
g.  Mr. 
;inent  in 
plan,  he 
nanner : 
e  bridge 
tic  river 
he  same 

erected 
Soon  af- 
Luope  for 
bridges, 
ind,  was 
;nce;  as 
;es  were 
d  where 


hat  part 
died  in 
not  re- 
said  to 
arly  lit- 
ed ;  and 
IS  everf 
useful 
sciences, 
lly  dis- 
of  the 
rts  and 


Sciences;  and  many  yean  a  counsellor  of  that 
learned  society.  He  was  also  a  distinguished  theo- 
logian, and  well  read  on  the  subject  of  the  prophe- 
cies.  His  views  on  revealed  religion  were  aiflferent 
from  the  Calvinistic  system.  He  was  an  original 
member  of  the  society  for  propagating  the  gospel 
among  the  Indians  and  others  in  North  America, 
incorporated  in  1787,  and  ever  discovered  an  interest 
in  its  prosperity, — and  in  promoting  the  important 
objects  jf  its  formation.  He  had  a  seat  in  the  Sen- 
ate of  Massachusetts  from  the  County  of  Suffolk, 
(Brainireo  bein^  then  a  part  of  that  County,)  and 
had  the  reputation  of  an  intelligent  legislator  and 
faithful  public  servant.  His  family  was  the  abode 
of  order,  sobriety  and  religion.  His  wife  and 
children  were  well  educated  and  well  informed,  and 
their  conversation  was  such  as  to  please  and  to  edify 
their  visitors. 

CUDWORTH,  Gen.  JAMES  came  to  Plymouth 
in  1634,  but  soon  after  removed  to  Scituate..  He 
was  several  years  an  assistant,  and  one  of  the  Coun- 
cil of  War.  Several  persons  were  at  divers  times 
chosen  to  form  such  a  council,  to  advise  Captain 
Standish.  In  the  time  of  the  war  with  the  Sachem 
Philip  in  1675,  Cudworth  had  the  command  of  the 
Plymouth  troops  at  one  time,  with  the  title  of  Gen- 
eral, before  Governor  Winslow  took  the  field  in  per- 
son. He  was  a  brave,  but  prudent  officer.  He 
was  the  first  military  character  in  the  colony,  after 
Standish.  He  was  independent  in  his  opinions,  and 
therefore  not  very  popular.  When  the  Quakers 
were  persecuted  in  1665,  and  after,  he  opposed  the 
severe  measures  against  them.  He  deem^  it  good 
policy  to  tolerate  all  sects;  and  he  gave  some 
of  the  Quakers  an  hospitable  reception,  till  he  was 
reprimanded  by  the  court  for  doing  it.  The  conduct 
of  the  Quakers  at  their  first  visiting  Plymouth  and 


1; 
1^ 


118 


HENRY    CU1IIN08. 


) 


Massachusetts  was  quite  irregular  and  reprehensi- 
ble ;  but  they  were  treated  with  more  severity  by 
the  gcvernment  than  the  Christian  spirit,  or  justice 
could  approve.  When  arguments  did  not  avail  with 
erroneous  sectarians,  the  civil  ruler  was  too  prone  to 
resort  to  force,  and  exercise  legal  authority.  Cud- 
worth  went  to  England,  as  an  agent  for  Plymouth 
Colony,  in  1681,  when  he  was  above  seventy  years 
of  age,  and  there  died  soon  after  his  arrival. 
Several  of  his  letters  on  public  business  are  pre- 
served ;  and  afford  evidence  of  a  good  education, 
and  of  sound  discretion. 

CUMINGS,  Rev.  HENRY  D.  D.  had  his  edu- 
cation in  Harvard  College,  and  left  that  Seminary  in 
1^60,  with  a  high  reputation  for  diligence  as  a 
student,  and  for  strong  intellectual  powers,  which 
were  developed  by  close  reading  and  application. 
When  in  college,  he  was  somewhat  more  advanced 
in  age  than  the  majority  of  the  students  ;  and  prob- 
ably, therefore,  was  more  attentive  and  studious, 
and  more  careful  to  reflect  deeply  on  the  literary 
and  scientific  subjects  which  he  was  called  upon  to 
study.  He  was  a  close  reasoner,  and  was  fond  of 
metaphysical  discussion.  But  he  always  disputed, 
with  candor  and  mildness.  He  was  ordained  over 
the  Church  in  Billerica,  in  Massachusetts,  a  few 
years  after  he  left  college;  and  there  continued  till 
his  death  in  1810.  Dr.  Cumings  had  the  reputation 
of  an  Arminian  ;  but  did  not  reject  what  may  justly 
be  called  the  doctrines  of  grace ;  and  his  preaching 
might  well  be  considered  as  evangelical.  Both 
Arminians  and  Calvinists  repudiate  the  conclusions 
which  some  draw  from  iheir  respective  systems. 
The  former  do  not  deny  the  doctrines  of  grace ;  nor 
the  latter  the  necessity  of  good  works,  or  that  man 
must  strive  to  make  his  calling  and  election  sure. 
Several  years  before  his  death  Mr.  Cumings  received 


'prchensl- 
verity  by 
or  justice 
avail  with 
0  prone  to 
ty.  Cud- 
Plymouth 
Mity  years 
is  arrival. 
J  are  pre- 
education, 


I  his  edu- 
eminary  in 
ence  as   a 
ers,  which 
ipplication. 
advanced 
1  and  prob- 
l  studious, 
he  literary 
upon  to 
as  fond  of 
disputed 
ained  over 
3tts,  a  few 
itinued  till 
reputation 
may  justly 
preaching 
al.      Both 
onclusions 
e  systems, 
grace;  nor 
that  man 
ction  sure, 
gs  received 


THOMAS    GUSHING. 


119 


I 


the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  the  corpora- 
tion  of  iiis  Alma  Mater ;  and  he  was  often  invited 
to  preach  on  public  occasions.  His  pulpit  per- 
formances were  always  acceptable,  and  several  of 
his  discourses  were  published.  All  who  knew  him 
bore  witness  to  his  amiable  disposition  and  his  ex- 
emplary conduct.  He  lived  to  a  good  old  age, 
having  survived  his  eightieth  year. 

GUSHING,  Hon.  THOMAS  received  his  first  de- 
gree, in  Harvard  College,  1744.  He  soon  after  en- 
gaged in  trade,  and  was  a  respectable  merchant  in 
Boston,  then  a  place  of  commerce  with  foreign  coun- 
tries, and  the  largest  seaport  in  New  England.  In 
the  year  1761,  he  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  Gen- 
eral Court  in  Massachusetts  for  Boston,  and  elected 
speaker  the  first  year  he  held  a  seat  in  the  Assem- 
bly. His  father,  who  was  also  a  very  respectable 
inhabitant  of  Boston,  occupied  that  station  twenty- 
seven  years  before.  Mr.  Gushing,  tlie  son,  was  one 
of  the  Representatives  of  Boston,  for  fourteen  years, 
till  the  Revolution ;  and  most  of  the  time  presided 
in  the  House.  He  had  much  influence  with  his  fel- 
low citizens,  and  with  the  members  of  the  General 
Court ;  and  yet  he  did  not  rank  with  Otis,  or  S.  or ' 
J.  Adams  in  political  knowledge,  or  in  public  de- 
bate. The  people  had  great  confidence  in  his  pat- 
riotism, at  the  critical  period  of  1764-'74 ;  for  he 
was  decided  and  judicious.  The  ministerial  party 
of  those  years,  did  not  indeed  fear  him  so  much  as 
they  did  the  other  patriots  just  mentioned.  In  1774, 
he  was  one  of  the  five  delegates  from  Massachusetts, 
chosen  to  attend  a  Continental  Congress,  to  consult 
on  measures  for  the  preservation  of  the  rights  and 
Uberties^of  the  British  North  American  Colonies,  then 
assailed  by  an  arbitrary  administration  in  England. 
He  was  also  returned  as  a  member  of  that  august 
assembly,  for  several  succeeding  years.     When  the 


12Q 


WILLIAM   GUSHING. 


f 


I 


constitution  of  Massachusetts  was  adopted  in  1780, 
Mr.  Gushing  was  chosen  Lieutenant  Governor  ;  and 
re-eiected  in  1781  and  1782.  His  station  entitled 
him  to  respect ;  and  he  was  esteemed  as  a  sincere 
patriot  and  an  honest  merchant.  Like  most  of  the 
patriots  of  that  period,  he  was  a  public  professor  of 
religion ;  and  his  life  corresponded  to  his  faith  and 
profession.  He  died  in  1788,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
five. 

GUSHING,  Hon.  WILLIAM  L  L.  D.  was  edu- 
cated at  Harvard  Gollege,  and  received  the  literary 
honors  in  1751.  He  engaged  in  the  profession  and 
practice  of  law  at  an  early  age ;  and  soon  became 
distinguished  for  his  legal  learning,  his  judgment  as 
a  counsellor,  and  for  integrity  in  practice.  From  his 
youth,  he  had  a  high  character  for  sobriety  and 
gravity ;  and  had  a  seat  on  the  bench  of  the  superior 
court  in  Massachusetts,  at  an  earlier  age  than  was 
then  or  since  common.  He  was  a  justice  of  that 
court  before  the  Revolution  ;  yet  he  manifested  great 
attachment  to  the  rights  of  the  colonies ;  and  was 
the  only  one  high  in  office  in  Massachusetts,  at  that 
time,  who  did  not  support  or  apologize  for  the  arbi- 
trary measures  of  the  parent  government.  He  was 
appointed  a  judge  of  the  highest  judicial  tribunal 
in  the  Gommonwealth,  in  1775-6 ;  and  afterwards, 
1780,  chief  justice  of  the  Supreme  Judicial  Gourt, 
under  the  constitution  adopted  in  that  year.  When 
the  federal  government  was  organized  in  1789,  he 
received  a  commission  as  an  associate  justice  of  the 
Supreme  Gourt  of  the  United  States;  Hon.  John 
Jay  of  New  York,  being  at  the  same  time  the  chief 
justice  of  that  court.  On  the  death  of  Judge  /ay, 
Mr.  Gushing  was  appointed  to  his  high  station  ;  but 
declined  it.  He  was  then  far  advanced  in  life,  and 
his  health  quite  feeble  and  precarious.  He  re- 
mained a  judge  of  the  court,  however,  some  time 


!^ 


NATHAN  CUSHIKO. 


121 


in  1780, 
or ;  and 
entitled 
L  sincere 
St  of  the 
ifessor  of 
faith  and 
of  sixty- 
was  edu- 
e  literary 
ssion  and 
>n  became 
Igment  as 
From  his 
3riety  and 
le  superior 
than  was 
;e  of  that 
isted  great 
and  was 
Its,  at  that 
r  the  arbi- 
He  was 
al  tribunal 
iterwards, 
cial  Court, 
ir.    When 
n  1789,  he 
tice  of  the 
on.  John 
3  the  chief 
udge  /ay, 
jition;  but 
kn  life,  and 
He   Tc- 
some  time 


after,  when  he  retired  to  private  life,  and  survived 
scarcely  a  year.  Judge  Gushing  possessed  good  tal- 
ents and  extensive  learning,  particularly  in  his  pro- 
fession. If  he  were  less  brilliant  than  some  of  his 
contemporaries,  his  learning  as  a  lawyer,  was  pro- 
found, and  his  decisions  were  generally  received  as 
equitable  and  just,  and  warranted  by  sound  princi- 
ples of  jurisprudence. 

GUSHING,  Hon.  NATHAN  as  well  as  William 
Gushing  named  above,  of  whom  notice  is  here  taken, 
was  a  native  of  Scituate,  in  Massachusetts;  but 
they  were  not  brothers.  Nathan  Gushing  was  a 
few  years  younger  than  William ;  and  received  a 
degree  in  Harvard  Gollege  in  1763.  He  also  studied 
law,  and  was  a  patriot  and  a  whig  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. In  1775,  two  judges  of  Admiralty  were  ap- 
pointed by  the  legislative  authority  of  Massaf*hu- 
setts;  when  Mr.  Gushing  was  appointed  for  the 
southern  district,  and  Timothy  Pickering  for  the 
northern.  Judge  Gushing  conducted  with  firmness 
and  promptitude,  and  yet  with  fairness  aud  impar* 
tiality.  Numerous  vessels  were  then  taken  by  the 
American  privateers,  and  libelled  for  adjudication. 
Whatever  were  his  prejudices  or  his  wishes  as  a 
patriot,  he  so  decidea  generally,  that  his  sentences 
were  fully  approved.  He  was  afterwards  appointed 
a  justice  of  the  Supreme  Judicial  Gourt  ot  Massa- 
chusetts, under  the  constitution  of  1780,  and  held 
that  office  several  years.  He  was  patient  and  up- 
right, as  a  judge,  but  not  always  so  ready  in  form- 
ing an  opinion  as  most  other  justices ;  nor  was  he 
very  eloquent  in  charging  the  jury.  His  observa- 
tions were  comparatively  few,  leaving  it  to  the  good 
sense  and  intelligence  of  the  jurors  to  give  their  ver- 
dict without  innuence  from  the  bench.  In  all  the 
relations  of  domestic  and  social  life,  he  had  a 
character  for  justice,  mildness  and  conciliation. 

11 


:.*  i e 


122 


MANASSAH  CUTLIB. — TmOTHY  CUTTER. 


CUTLER,   Ret.   MANASSAH  LL.  D.  was  a 

graduate  of  Yale  College  with  the  class  of  1765 ; 
and  having  studied  divinity  the  usual  period  of 
preparation  for  the  Christian  ministry,  settled  as 
pastor  of  a  Church  in  Ipswich  in  1768.  Though 
irespectable  as  a  theologian  and  faithful  as  a  pastor, 
he  devoted  much  of  his  time  to  the  study  of  Botany 
and  Natural  History.  His  treatise  in  botany  was 
well  received ;  but  that  branch  of  natural  history 
had  not  been  then  much  studied ;  and  there  have 
been  more  learned  publications  since,  on  the  subject, 
in  America.  He  paid  greater  attention  to  that  inter- 
esting study  than  any  others  of  his  time ;  and  his 
publication  was  considered  a  novelty  from  the  pen 
of  a  divine.  Professor  Peck  of  Harvard  University 
afterWbrds  made  natural  history  in  all  its  branches 
his  study ;  and  acquired  more  correct  and  more  ex- 
tensive information  than  Dr.  Cutler  possessed.  Dr. 
Cutler  was  a  member  of  several  learned  societies, 
formed  in  his  day  for  the  promotion  of  science ;  and 
always  manifested  a  disposition  to  advance  the  in- 
terests of  literature  in  this  country.  He  removed  to 
Marietta,  Ohio,  soon  after  it  became  a  separate 
State :  and  there  remained  till  his  death,  in  1803. 

CUTTER,  Rev.  TIMOTHY  D.  D.  received  his 
first  degree  in  Harvard  College  in  1701.  In  1709 
he  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  church  in  Stratford, 
Connecticut ;  and  in  1719,  was  chosen  Rector  and 
President  of  Yale  College.  He  had  the  character  of 
a  good  scholar ;  and  very  few  so  well  understood 
the  ancient  languages,  especially  the  Hebrew.  As  a 
pulpit  orator  also  he  was  probably  not  excelled  by  any 
preacher  of  his  time.  In  1722,  he  declared  his  pref- 
erence for  the  Episcopal  rites  and  forms  to  the  con- 
gregational system,  so  far  as  the  latter  deviated  from 
the  former.  The  year  following  he  visited  England, 
and  received  ordination  from  a  bishop ;  declaring  the 


TIMOTHT  CUTTER. 


123 


was  a 
»f  1765; 
eriod  of 
tttled  as 
Though 
I  pastor, 

Botany 
my  was 
1  history 
sre  have 

subject, 
lat  inter- 

and  his 

the  pen 
aiversity 
branches 
more  ex> 
sed.  Dr. 
societies, 
ince;  and 
5  the  in- 
moved  to 

separate 

1803. 

eived  his 
In  1709 
Stratford, 
Bctor  and 
aracter  of 
nderstood 
iw.    As  a 
ed  by  any 
1  his  pref- 
>  the  con- 
lated  from 
England, 
Jaring  the 


opinion  that  his  previous  ordination  by  his  clerical 
brethren  of  the  congregational  order  was  invalid,  and 
that  no  one  was  a  regular  minister  of  Christ,  without 
the  imposition  of  a  bishop's  hand.  He  soon  after  be- 
came the  rector  of  Christ's  Church,  in  the  north  part 
of  Boston  ;  and  continued  in  that  church  and  station 
till  1765,  when  he  had  reached  the  age  of  eighty-two 
years.  His  talents  were  admitted  by  his  religious 
opponents  as  well  as  his  friends  ;  and  his  literary  at- 
tainments were  greater  than  those  of  the  majority  of 
the  clergy  of  either  professions,  Episcopal  or  Congre- 
gational. But  he  cherished  and  expressed  narrow 
views  as  to  the  forms  of  religion  ;  often  declaring  his 
doubts,  ''whether  there  was  salvation  for  any  out  of 
the  pale  of  the  English  Episcopal  Church."  He  wrote 
in  reply  to  Dr.  Mayhew  on  the  controversy  in  which 
the  latter  engaged  in  1763,  relating  to  attempts  then 
made  to  extend  Episcopacy  and  to  support  bishops 
in  New  England. 


kU 


,  t^^ti    '■^  '  r  t  i.1  \  \    -,     \'4^       ,  ITtk.     I  *d« 


CHAPTER  IV. 


D  * 

DAGGETT,  Rev.  NAPHTALI  D.  D.  a  native 
of  Attleborough,  in  Massaciiusetts,  received  his  edu- 
cation in  Yale  College,  and  was  graduated  in  1748. 
He  was  ordained  over  a  church  at  Smithtown,  on 
Long  Island,  in  1751,  where  he  remained  only  five 
years ;  being  then  chosen  professor  of  divinity  in  the 
college  at  New  Haven,  in  which  he  had  been  edu- 
cated. H<i  continued  in  that  important  station  till 
his  death  in  November,  1780.  During  ten  years  of 
his  professorship  he  also  acted  as  president  of  the 
college,  between  the  time  of  President  Clap  and  Dr. 
Stiles.  Dr.  Daggett  was  respectable  as  a  theologian 
and  a  general  scholar.  He  had  a  degree  of  Doctor 
of  Divinity  from  the  college  at  Princeton,  New  Jer- 
sey, as  well  as  that  of  New  Haven.  He  continued 
to  preach  occasionally  while  professor  in  college; 
and  several  of  his  sermons  were  published.  While 
he  acted  as  the  president,  the  college  was  in  a  pros- 
perous state  ;  and  several  of  the  alumni,  distinguish- 
ed afterwards  in  public  life,  were  educated  while  he 
was  at  the  head  of  that  seminary.  In  his  character 
as  a  scholar,  we  find  indications  and  traits  rather  of 
solid  and  useful  learning,  than  of  brilliancy  or  of  ori- 
ginal genius.  In  that  generation  of  men,  there  was 
more  of  a  desire  to  be  useful  than  to  excite  admira- 
tion. There  were  many  good  scholars  and  able  di- 
vines, but  few  of  very  commanding  eloquence. 


TRISTBAM  DALTON — IIORARD  DANA. 


126 


a  native 
his  edu- 
in  1748. 
town,  on 
only  five 
ity  in  the 
jeen  edu- 
tation  till 
I  years  of 
[It  of  the 
)  and  Dr. 
peologian 
'  Doctor 
New  Jer- 
ontinlied 
college ; 
While 
a  pros- 
tin  guish- 
while  he 
character 
rather  of 
or  of  ori- 
lere  was 
admira- 
1  able  di- 
ice. 


DALTON,  Hon.  TRISTRAM  was  a  citizen  of 
Newburyport,  and  born  in  that  vicinity.  He  pre- 
pared for  college  under  Master  Moody,  the  able 
teacher  in  Byfield  academy ;  and  was  graduated  at 
Harvard  University  in  1755.  He  studied  law,  but 
early  engaged  in  commercial  pursuits.  In  the  politi- 
cal dispute  with  England,  he  ranked  among  the 
whigs  of  the  day,  and  was  one  of  the  lf;ading  patriots 
in  the  County  of  Essex ;  though  there  were  many 
choice  spirits  in  that  part  of  the  province.  He  was 
often  elected  to  the  House  of  Representatives  and 
the  Senate  of  Massachusetts  ;  and  was  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Continental  Congress^  and  of  the  Senate  of 
the  United  States.  In  all  these  important  stations, 
he  had  the  character  of  an  able  and  faithful  public 
servant.  He  was  also  distinguished  for  his  courtesy 
and  polished  manners  ;  and  he  paid  more  attention 
to  dress  than  great  men  usually  do.  But  perhaps 
more  attention  was  bestowed  on  dress  and  manners 
sixty  and  seventy  years  ago  than  at  present.  It 
seems  to  have  been  expected  of  men  of  wealth  and 
in  public  office.  The  opinion  of  Addison  probably 
then  prevailed,  that  neatness  was  nearly  allied  to 
the  moral  virtues.  Mr.  Dalton  had  the  reputation  of 
a  good  general  scholar ;  and  was  an  original  member 
of  the  American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences.  He 
lived  to  an  advanced  age;  and  was  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal officers  in  the  custom  house  in  Boston  for  sev- 
eral years  near  the  close  of  his  life. 

DANA,  Esq.  RICHARD  was  an  alumnus  of 
Harvard  College,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1718. 
He  studied  law  and  settled  in  Boston.  His  char- 
acter was  that  of  an  able  and  honest  lawyer,  and  he  is 
jQstly  ranked  among  the  patriots  and  advocates  for 
civil  liberty,  in  the  critical  period  of  1770-75,  when 
the  British  ministry  were  inclined  to  abridge  the  free- 
dom of  the  colonies,  and  to  render  them  more  fully 
11* 


126 


RICHARD   DANA. 


subject  to  the  power  and  control  of  the  parent  gor- 
ornment  than  they  had  ever  before  been.  New  and 
heavy  taxes  were  imposed,  and  public  officers  in  the 
province,  appointed  by  the  British  ministers,  were 
numerous,  with  extravagant  stipends.  On  many  oc- 
casions, Mr.  Dana  was  found  taking  a  decided  and 
active  part  for  the  defence  of  charter  rights  and  priv- 
ileges.    He  was  Representative  for  Boston. 

He  was  particularly  assiduous  in  obtaining  correct 
information  of  the  massacre  in  Boston,  on  the  night 
of  the  6th  of  March,  1770,  perpetrated  by  British 
soldiers,  then  stationed  in  that  town.  He  was  one 
of  a  committee  appointed  by  the  town,  to  prepare  a 
full  statement  of  the  several  incidents,  and  the  order 
in  which  they  occurred,  connected  with  that  wanton 
tragedy.  He  took  several  depositions  of  respectable 
citizens,  who  were  present  at  the  scene ;  and  who 
had  heard  the  previous  threats  of  some  of  the  sol- 
diers, who  had  been  insolent  and  abusive  for  some 
preceding  days.  They  had  attacked  the  citizens 
with  violence,  and  declared  they  would  kill  or 
wound  some  of  them.  Exasperated  by  the  threats 
and  blows  of  the  soldiers,  some  of  the  people,  chiefly 
the  young  and  ardent,  returned  abusive  language ; 
and  some  threw  snow  balls  and  pieces  of  ice.  But 
there  was  not  evidence  sufficient  to  warrant  the  be- 
lief that  the  people  would  have  taken  the  life  of  the 
sentinels,  or  seriously  attacked  the  other  soldiers. 
The  firing  has  been  said  to  be  in  self-defence,  and 
therefore  justifiable.  But  this  can  hardly  be  admit- 
ted ;  and  if  the  soldiers  under  Captain  Preston  had  not 
fir6d,  and  had  used  only  such  threats  or  such  a  de- 
gree of  force  as  to  disperse  the  people  collected  near 
liie  sentinels,  it  would  have  been  excusable.  It  was 
believed  by  H.  Knox,  afterwards  major-general  in 
the  American  army,  and  who  was  then  on  the  spot, 
and  by  many  others,  that  the  firing  was  unnecesary 
for  the  protection  of  the  sentinels.    It  seems  proper 


FRANCIS  DANA. 


127 


ent  gov- 
^ev  and 
TS  in  the 
rs,  were 
lany  ce- 
ded and 
ind  priv- 

g  correct 
;he  night 
f  British 
was  one 
)repare  a 
the  order 
t  wanton 
spec  table 
and  who 
the  sol- 
for  some 
citizens 
kill  or 
threats 
B,  chiefly 
inguage ; 
ice.     But 
It  the  be- 
ife  of  the 
soldiers, 
mce,  and 
}e  admit- 
n  had  not 
ich  a  de- 
cted  near 
It  was 
eneral  in 
the  spot, 
necesary 
IS  proper 


therefore,  to  call  the  outrase,  by  which  several 
citizens  were  killed  or  mortally  wounded,  a  massa- 
cre ;  and  yet  some  writers  insist  that  it  is  incorrect 
to  give  the  tragedy  that  severe  appellation. 

Mr.  Dana  was  chairman  of  the  committee 
chosen  by  the  town  of  Boston,  in  1765,  to  give  in- 
structions to  the  representatives  of  the  General 
Court.  This  was  at  a  very  critical  period,  and  a 
time  of  great  anxiety  for  the  rights  and  liberties  of 
the  province.  The  stamp  act  had  passed,  and  other 
laws  for  laying  high  duties  on  all  articles  imported 
into  the  province,  a  host  of  revenue  officers  sent  over 
from  England  to  enforce  these  obnoxious  statutes, 
and  the  British  parliament  had  declared  that  they 
had  a  right  to  legislate  for  the  people  in  the  colonies 
in  all  cases  whatever.  The  instructions  were  able 
and  bold  perhaps,  but  at  the  same  time  temperate 
and  judicious.  Mr.  Dana  was  not  a  rash  or  impru- 
dent patriot,  though  sufficiently  decided  and  zealous 
in  the^  cause  of  freedom.  He  left  two  sons,  who 
were  educated  at  Harvard  College  ;  Edmund,  who 
was  an  Episcopal  clergyman  in  England  ;  Francis, 
who  was  some  time  the  chief  justice  of  the  Supreme 
Judicial  Court  of  Massachusetts,  from  1792  to  1810; 
and  filled  several  other  very  important  offices  in 
the  State,  with  great  ability  and  integrity.  The  for- 
mer was  graduated  in  1759,  and  the  latter  in  1762. 

DANA,  Hon.  FRANCIS  L  L.  D.  son  of  Richard 
Dana,  Esq.,  already  noticed,  was  born  in  Boston,  in 
1744  ;  and  after  he  completed  his  collegiate  studies, 
entered  as  a  student  of  law,  in  the  office  of  Hon. 
Edmund  Trowbridge,  one  of  the  most  eminent  law- 
yers in  the  province,  and  who  at  a  later  period  than 
that  mentioned,  held  a  seat  on  the  bench  of  the  Su- 
perior Court  of  Judicature.  Mr.  Dana  early  took  a 
decided  part,  in  favor  of  colonial  rights,  and  of  the  lib- 
erties of  the  people,  and  in  opposition  to  the  arbitrary 


128 


JAMBS  DANA. 


,    ! 


il 


meMiires  of  the  British  government.  Sach  was  his^ 
reputation  for  legal  and  general  knowledge,  and  such 
the  confidence  reposed  in  his  patriotism  oy  the  Con- 
tinental  Congress,  that  he  was  appointed  an  agent  to 
visit  the  court  of  St.  Petersburg,  m  1778,  on  impor- 
tant business  in  behalf  of  the  United  States.  The 
E articular  rank  he  held,  as  a  diplomatic  character, 
as  not  been  stated ;  and  at  that  early  period  of  our 
national  existence,  the  ministers  sent  abroad  were 
few ;  and  their  grade  not  preciisely  defined  in  all 
cases.  Soon  after  his  return,  Mr.  Dana  was  ap- 
pointed a  judge  of  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court ;  and 
on  the  death  of  Judge  Sargent,  he  received  a  com- 
mission as  chief  justice.  He  was  also  a  short  time  a 
member  of  the  Continental  Congress,  before  his 
agency  to  Russia,  already  mentioned.  Mr.  Dana 
was  considered  as  a  learned  lawyer,  and  an  i^^uight 
impartial  judge.  He  was  naturally  of  an  ardent 
temperament ;  he  had  no  patience  with  those  who 
were  disposed  to  tamper  with  right  and  justice  and 
truth,  for  every  purpose.  He  thought  fairness  and 
strict  integrity  as  proper  in  an  attorney,  as  in  any 
other  profession ;  and  in  his  family  circle,  his  conduct 
was  such  as  to  command  respect  and  to  conciliate  es- 
teem. When  the  court  was  over,  in  which  he  had 
been  presiding  with  great  dignity,  and  as  some  think 
of  sterness  of  manner,  he  engaged  in  conversation  in 
the  social  circle  with  much  atl'ability  and  pleasantry. 


DANA,  Rev.  JAMES  D.  D.  was  an  alumnus  of 
Harvard  College,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1763. 
He  settled  in  theministry  inthe  town  of  Wallingford, 
Colony  of  Connecticut.  After  a  few  years  he  was  sep- 
arated from  the  Church  and  society  in  that  town,  on 
account  of  disputes  relative  to  some  speculative 
points  in  theology.  His  character  for  integrity  and 
piety  was  never  impeached.  He  did  not  fully  coincide 
with  the  orthodox  clergy  of  the  day  on  all  theologi- 


SAMUEL  W.  DANA— NATHAN  DANE. 


139 


vrat  his' 
nd  fuch 
he  Con- 
agent  to 
I  impor- 
B.  The 
laracter, 
1  of  our 
id  were 
1  in  all 
vas  ap- 
rt ;  and 
a  com- 
t  time  a 
fore  his 
'.  Dana 
v^vright 
,  ardent 
3se  who 
lice  and 
ess  and 
I  in  any 
conduct 
iliate  es- 
.  he  had 
ic  think 
Qition  in 
sisantry. 

nnus  of 
n  1763. 
ingford, 
vas  sep- 
3wn,  on 
mutative 
ity  and 
coincide 
leologi- 


cal  subjects.  And  he  was  independent  and  too 
honest,  to  profess  any  article  of  a  creed  in  which  he 
did  not  believe.  He  afterwards  became  the  pastor 
and  teacher  of  a  church  in  New  Haven,  where  he 
continued  till  the  infirmities  of  age  prevented  his 
public  services  ;  but  he  always  shared  largely  in  the 
esteem  and  warm  regard  of  his  people,  and  of  his 
brethren  in  the  Christian  ministry.  Even  those  who 
held  a  somewhat  stricter  faith,  extended  to  him  their 
Christian  sympathy  and  respect.  He  possessed  an 
intellect  of  great  power  and  discrimination  ;  and  his 
discourses  were  of  the  first  order  in  his  time,  for  solid 
reasoning  and  impressive  appeals.  His  manners 
were  those  of  the  early  puritans,  softened,  however, 
by  more  gentleness  and  amenity  than  some  of  them 
exhibited.     He  died  at  the  age  of  about  four-score. 

SAMUEL  W.  DANA,  of  Middletown,  Connecticut, 
Was  a  distinguished  lawj^er  and  statesman.  He  had 
a  seat  in  the  National  Legislature,  in  the  House  of 
Representatives,  and  in  the  Senate,  and  was  highly 
esteemed  both  for  his  ability  and  his  candor.  He 
was  decided  and  frank  in  his  opinions,  but  courteous 
and  conciliating  towards  political  opponents.  He 
supported  the  policy  of  VVashington  and  Adams. 
In  private  life,  Mr.  Dana  was  truly  estimable  ;  of 
bland  and  pleasant  manners,  and  highly  entertaining 
as  a  companion.  In  his  religious  views,  he  generally 
coincided  with  his  venerable  parent.  He  always 
spoke  of  the  puritan  fathers  of  New  England  with 
great  respect  and  admiration. 

\  DANE,  Hon.  NATHAN  L  L.  D.  received  his 
public  education  in  Harvard  College,  and  took  his 
first  degree  in  1778.  He  studied  law,  and  settled 
in  the  town  of  Beverly,  in  Massachusetts.  He  was 
a  good  scholar,  but  not  greatly  distinguished  in 
early  life.    He  however  had  the  reputation  of  a 


130 


NATHAN  DANI. 


diligent  student,  when  a  member  of  college,  and 
aflerwards,  when  engaged  in  the  legal  profession. 
And  thus  his  acquirements  rendered  him  a  safe  and 
able  counsellor.  He  was  appointed  a  member  of 
the  Continental  Congress  in  1785,  by  the  legislature 
of  Massachusetts,  as  was  then  the  practice.  And 
although  never  brilliant  as  an  orator,  he  rendered 
much  service  on  committees,  where  he  was  alike  in- 
dustrious and  judicious.  It  was  owing  chiefly  to 
his  efforts,  that  Congress  made  it  a  condition,  on  the 
formation  of  new  States  in  the  North-western  Terri- 
tory, that  slavery  should  not  be  allowed  therein. 
This  territory  consisted  of  grants  from  several  of 
the  old  thirteen  States,  for  the  benefit  of  the  whole 
United  States ;  the  proceeds  of  the  sales  to  be  ap- 
plied to  the  payment  of  the  public  debt  incurred  by 
the  war  of  the  Revolution,  until  that  debt  should  be 
extinguished;  and  then  to  belong  to  thj  several 
States.  The  southern  members  of  Congress  at  that 
time,  as  they  have  always  been,  were  in  favor  of 
slavery,  and  contended  for  its  continuance  in  their 
States,  and  might  therefore  be  willing  that  it  should 
be  allowed  in  other  parts  of  the  Union :  but  the 
northern  and  eastern,  the  non-slaveholding  States, 
were  opposed  to  it,  at  least  to  its  extension ;  and 
therefore  insisted  that  it  be  excluded  from  any  new 
States  which  might  be  formed.  Mr.  Dane  was  one 
of  the  most  decided  and  active  in  urging  the  con- 
dition of  its  exclusion.  He  afterwards  had  exten- 
sive practice  as  an  attorney ;  and  for  many  years 
was  engaged  in  important  causes  before  the  Supreme 
Judicial  Court  in  Essex  and  Suffolk  Counties,  and 
in  most  parts  of  Maine.  His  habits  of  industry 
continued  till  he  exceeded  the  age  of  seventy,  and 
when  about  that  age,  he  published  a  large  and  valu- 
able work  with  the  title  of  'American  Practice.  It 
affords  evidence  that  he  was  "  learned  in  the  law," 
and  it  has  been  among  the  books  of  authority  with 


THOMAS  DANrOSTH. 


131 


)ge,  and 
ofestioa. 
safe  and 
mber  of 
gislature 
;e.  And 
rendered 
alike  in- 
biefly  to 
a,  on  the 
rn  Terri- 
therein. 
everal  of 
le  whole 

0  be  ap- 
surred  by 
should  be 
J  several 
IS  at  that 

1  favor  of 
in  their 

it  should 
:  but  the 
ig  States, 
ion ;  and 
any  new 
was  one 
the  con- 
lcI  exten- 
ny  years 
Supreme 
ities,  and 
industry 
snty,  and 
ind  valu- 
Btice.    It 
le  law," 
ity  wiih 


gentlemen  of  the  legal  profession.    Mr.  Dane  alwayt 
sustained  the  character  of  an  honest  and  virtuous  man. 

DANPORTH,  Hon.  THOMAS  was  bom  in  Eng. 
land,  but  came  to  Massachusetts  in  early  manhood, 
and  at  an  early  period  of  the  settlement  of  the  Colo- 
ny. In  1659,  we  find  him  one  of  the  magistrates  and 
board  of  assistants,  as  the  coadjutors  of  the  Governor 
were  then  called.  He  continued  to  be  chosen  to  this 
honorable  station  for  twenty  years,  when  he  wai 
elected  Deputy  Governor,  alter  Mr.  Bradstreet,  suc- 
cessor to  Leverett,  received  the  appointment  of  Chief 
Magistrate :  and  in  this  station  he  continued  twelve 
years,  and  until  the  second  charter,  in  1691,  except 
two  years  of  the  arbitrary  and  unconstitutional  aa- 
ministration  of  Sir  Edward  Andros. 

Mr.  Danforth  was  a  zealous  patriot,  and  the  man  of 
the  people,  in  the  usual  meaning  of  that  phrase.  But 
he  couldnot  justly  be  called  demagogue.  While 
a  firm  advocate  for  popular  riguts,  and  for  the  full 
exercise  of  political  powers  granted  c>r  recognized  by 
the  Colony  charter,  he  was  the  friend  of  civil  order 
and  authority,  maintained  iccording  lo  settled  prin- 
ciples, and  the  laws  and  acts  of  the  Legislature. 
He  therefore  opposed  the  arbitrary  and  oppressive 
measures  of  the  Briiisb  administration  during  the 
period  of  1660-168'  hile  Charles  II.  and  James 
II.  were  on  the  th  u  when  several  of  his  contem- 
poraries, through  1  or  a  desire  of  the  royal  favor, 
were  ready  to  submit  to  the  unjust  and  tyrannical  or- 
ders of  Randolph,  Andros,  and  of  commissioners  sent 
into  the  Colony  by  the  king,  to  interfere  with  its  in- 
ternal laws  and  regulations ;  all  of  whom  encroach- 
ed most  arbitrarily  on  the  charter  rights  of  the  peo* 
pie.  For  several  years,  Mr.  Danforth  had  the  ap^ 
pointment  of  President  of  Maine,  a  great  part  of 
which  was  under  the  government  of  Massachusetts ; 
the  majority  of  the  inhabitants,  in  a  time  of  political 


132 


SAMUEL   DANFORTH. 


Is 


dispute  and  confusion,  having  desired  to  be  attached 
to  that  Colony.  Cooke,  Gookins,  Hawthorne  and  oth- 
ers were  the  friends  of  the  Deputy  Governor  ;  Joseph 
Dudley  and  Dennison,  were  apologists  for  the  British 
administrntion.  Governor  Bradstreet  was  considered 
more  moderate  and  prudent,  and  was  supported  by 
most  of  the  people  who  did  not  engage  very  warmly 
in  the  contests  between  the  political  parties  of  the 
day.  Mr.  Danforth  had  one  son  who  was  educated 
in  Harvard  College,  and  graduated  there  in  1671 ; 
and  afterwards  visited  and  resided  in  England. 

DANFORTH,  Rev.  SAMUEL  a  nephew  (as  is 
supposed)  of  Hon.  Thomas  Danforth,  cameto  jDAas- 
sachusetts  when  quite  young,  and  was  graduated  at 
Harvard  College  with  the  second  class  in  1643.  He 
was  a  close  student,  and  made  great  attainments  in 
various  branches  of  literature.  In  1650,  he  received 
ordination  as  colleague  pastor,  with  the  celebrated 
John  Eliot,  over  the  church  in  Roxbury.  He  died 
at  the  age  of  fifty-two,  when  his  reputation  was  high 
as  a  clergyman,  and  his  usefulness  acknowledged  by 
all.  He  was  pathetic  and  impressive  in  his  preaching, 
and  seldom  delivered  a  sermon  without  tears. 

Rev.  Samuel  Danforth,  and  Rev.  John  Dan- 
forth, sons  of  the  former,  were  eminent  ministers ; 
the  first  was  ordained  to  the  pastoral  care  of  the 
Church  in  Taunton.  He  received  a  degree  in  Har- 
vard College  in  the  year  1683,  and  died  in  1727; 
several  of  his  discourses  were  published.  Rev.  John 
Danforth  was  graduated  in  Harvard  College,  with 
the  class  of  1677.  He  surpassed  most  scholars^  of 
his  time  in  mathematics.  His  father  also  made  un- 
common progress  in  the  study  of  astronomy.  He 
became  the  pastor  of  the  Church  in  Dorchester  in 
1682,  and  died  in  1730,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six. 
His  publications  were  several  occasional  sermons. 
Hon.  Samuel  Danforth,  his  t>on,  resided  in  Cam- 


TIMOTHY  DANIELSON. 


183 


kttached 
ind  oth- 
;  Joseph 
;  British 
isidered 
irted  by 
warmly 
s  of  the 
ducated 
1  1671; 
id. 

jr  ^as  is 
itoldas- 
uated  at 
43.  He 
aents  in 
received 
3lebrated 
He  died 
w&s  high 
ged  by 
eaching, 
s. 

IN  Dan- 
inisters ; 
of  the 
in  Har- 
n  1727; 
BV.  John 
e,  with 
olars^  of 
lade  un- 
y.  He 
ester  in 
xty-six. 
ermons. 
n  Cam- 


bridge, and  was  much  in  public  life;  and  for  several 
years  the  oldest  member  of  the  Supreme  Executive 
Council.  In  the  dispute  with  the.  British  ministry, 
as  to  the  extent  of  the  civil  rights  and  authority  of 
the  provincial  government,  which  became  highly  in- 
teresting and  serious  in  1764,  and  continued  till  the 
Revolution  in  1775,  Mr.  Danforth  was  on  the  side 
of  the  administration  in  England.  And  in  1774, 
when  the  charter  of  Massachusetts  was  altered,  or 
directly  violated  by  the  appointment  of  counsellors 
by  the  king,  instead  of  having  their  election  by  the 
Itepresentatives  of  the  people,  he  was  one  of  the 
nuDQiber.  He  did  not  leave  the  country,  however,  as 
many  others  did  at  that  time,  from  their  strong 
attachment  to  the  British  government,  arbitrary  as 
it  then  was.  He  died  in  Cambridge  in  1777,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-one.  He  had  studied  chemistry  more 
than  most  others  of  his  day,  and  excelled  also  in  the 
knowledge  of  other  branches  of  natural  philosophy. 

DANIELSON,  Hon.  TIMOTHY  was  a  citizen 
of  Brimfield,  in  the  south  part  of  (old)  Hampshire 
County ;  and  one  of  the  most  zealous  and  active 
supporters  of  Colonial  rights  in  the  western  part  of 
the  Province  at  the  memorable  period  of  1775.  His 
education  fitted  him  for  extensive  usefulness.  He 
received  a  degree  in  Yale  College  in  the  year  1756. 
He  first  gave  his  attention  to  theology,  but  did  not 
engage  in  the  clerical  profession.  Ten  years  before 
the  war  began,  a  dispute  arose,  or  was  revived,  of 
the  extent  of  the  political  power  of  the  British  Par- 
liament over  the  assemblies  and  people  in  the  Prov- 
inces, and  of  the  civil  authority  which  belonged  to 
each  provincial  legislature,  for  all  internal  police  and 

Soverhment.  The  young  men  of  education  took  a 
eep  interest  in  the  dispute.  They  read  the  history 
of  England  and  of  the  Colonies,  especially  of  Mas- 
iachusetts  ;  which  from  its  first  settlement  had  cod- 

12 


134 


TIKOTli7  DANIILBOIf. 


tended  for  charter  rights ;  and  for  civil  rights  as  Eng- 
lishmen. A  great  portion  of  the  sons  of  Uarvaid 
and  Yale,  educated  between  1730  and  1770,  were 
found  firm  and  decided  in  defence  of  civil  liberty, 
and  on  the  side  of  the  Colonies,  on  this  great 
question.  The  British  ministry  after  1763,  pretend- 
ed we  had  too  much  power  and  too  much  liberty. 
They  assumed  a  right  to  govern  us,  and  to  legislate 
for  us  in  all  cases  by  laws  of  Parliament,  though 
we  were  not  represented  in  that  legislative  body. 
This  was  seen  to  be  the  essence  of  tyranny — and 
that  Americans  must  then  be  slaves.  In  such  a  case, 
there  was  no  hesitation,  and  no  indecision  on  the 
part  of  the  great  body  of  the  people  in  Massachu- 
setts. And  there  was  a  goodly  number  of  learned 
men  on  the  subject,  who  were  able  to  state  the  argu- 
ments on  the  side  of  freedom ;  while  almost  the 
whole  body  of  the  people  were-eager  to  be  informed 
and  to  understand  the  nature  of  the  dispute:  and 
were  then  ready  to  act  in  defence  of  political  liberty. 
Mr.  Danielsou  was  chairman  of  the  convention  in 
the  County  of  Hampshire,  September  1774;  and 
was  chosen  a  delegate  to  the  Provincial  Congress  of 
Massachusetts,  holden  at  Concord  in  October  1774, 
and  afterwards  at  Cambridge  in  February  1775 ; 
and  at  Walertown  May  1775.  In  May  1774,  he 
was  chosen  one  of  the  Board  of  Council,  being  then 
a  member  of  the  General  Court  from  Brimfield;  but 
was  negatived  by  Governor  Gage,  with  several 
others,  at  the  same  time. 

In  May  1775,  the  Provincial  Congress  of  Massa- 
chusetts voted  to  raise  and  organize  twenty-five  reg- 
iments of  militia  for  the  common  defence ;  Mr.  Dan- 
ielsou had  command  of  one  of  these  regiments;  and 
WiUiam  Sheppard  wap:  his  Lieutenant  Colonel.  He 
was  chiefly  howevei:  in  the  legislative  body ;  and 
was  a  member  several  years  after  1775.  He  did  noc 
■arvive  to  a  very  great  age.      v  a'  ,4^, ,'  ,v^. 

1:1 


JOHN  DAVKNPOIT. 


im 


BtsEng- 
larvaro 
0,  were 

liberty, 
18  great 
pretend- 
liberty, 
legislate 
though 
e  body, 
ay — and 
h  a  case, 
,  on  the 
Eissachu- 
:  learned 
he  argu- 
Qost   the 
informed 
ate:  and 
il  liberty, 
mtion  in 
74 ;   and 
[igress  of 
«r  1774, 
1776; 
1774,  he 
iing  then 
eld;  but 
several 


DAVENPORT,  Rev.  JOHN  came  to  New  Eng- 
land  in  the  year  1637,  with  Messrs.  Hopkins  and 
Eaton,  and  joined  them  in  the  first  settlement  of 
New  Haven :  and  Hopkins  and  Eaton,  and  some 
others  of  that  company,  were  men  of  large  estates. 
Mr.  Davenport  had  j)een  distinguished  in  England 
as  a  popular  preacher  and  a  tea^rned  theologian ;  and 
had  great  influence  among  his  brethren  of  the  clergy, 
who  were  puritans.  He  received  his  public  educa- 
tion at  one  of  the  colleges,  Oxford,  and  afterwards 
was  honored  with  the  degree  of  Bacheldor  of  Divin- 
ity from  that  University.  When  he  with  some 
other  pious  men,  both  laity  and  clergy,  attempted  to 
reform  abuses  in  the  established  Church,  they  were 
opposed,  and  prohibited  to  proceed  in  the  good  work 
by  archbishop  Luud,  a  great  bigot,  and  of  a  very 
arbitrary  temper.  The  money  collected  by  Mr. 
Davenport  and  his  friends,  by  donations  from 
various  persons,  was  taken  and  applied  to  public 
purposes  according  to  the  pleasure  of  the  archbishop, 
the  great  enemy  and  oppressor  of  the  non-conform- 
ists. In  1Q33,  Mr.  Davenport  retired  to  Holland,  to 
avoid  persecution  and  imprisonment.  But  he  re- 
turned to  his  native  land  ;  and   there  resided  about 

"two  years,  when  hearing  of  the  prosperity  and  ex- 
tension of  the  settlements  in  Massachusetts,  he  sail- 
ed for  this  country.  While  at  New  Haven,  he  was 
invited  to  be  a  member  of  the  Assembly  of  West- 
minister, in  England,  in  1642,  for  preparing  a  system 
of  doctrines,  6cc.,  to  be  adopted  by  the  great  body  of 

'  non-conformisfn  and  puritans  and  independents 
of  that  period.  Mr.  Cotton  of  Boston,  and  Mr. 
Hooker  of  Hartford,  were  also  requested  to  attend 

^  the  assemhly ;  but  they  all  declined.  He  assisted  in 
concealing  Goffe  and  Whaley,  two  of  the  judges, 
by  whom  Charles  I  was  sentenced  to  be  beheaded 

^  for  tyranny,  and  levying  war  on  his  subjects.  On 
the  restoration  of  Charles  H,  in  1660,  Gofife,  Whaley 


136 


C&LIB  DAVIS. 


and  Dixwill,  three  members  of  that  tribanal,  fled  to 
New  England;  and  warrants  were  issued  in  the 
name  of  the  king,  to  arrest  them  and  convey  them 
to  England  for  trial.  Their  case  excited  much 
syiupathy  in  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut ;  and 
they  were  concealed  for  many  .years,  and  uW  their 
death,  though  at  the  risk  of  the  royal  displeasure. 
Mr.  Davenport  consented  that  they  should  be  kept 
in  his  house  for  a  long  period,  dr.ring  which  the 
messengers  from  England  passed  through  New 
Haven  in  pursuit  of  them.  On  the  death  of  Mr.  Nor- 
ton, teacher  of  the  first  Church  in  Boston,  in  1667, 
Mr.  Davenport  was  invited  to  take  charge  of  that 
Church,  and  soon  after  removed  and  settled  there  as 
the  pastor,  and  at  the  same  time  Mr.  Allen  was  or- 
dained as  the  teacher.  Nearly  half  of  the  first 
Church  and  Society  were  opposed  to  the  settlement 
of  Mr.  Davenport,  and  many  of  his  Church  in  New 
Haven  also  objected  to  his  removal.  The  chief  ob- 
jection to  Mr.  Davenport  by  the  people  of  the  Church 
in  Boston,  was,  that  he  would  baptize  no  chil<jlren, 
except  the  parents  were  members  of  the  Church, 
— while  many  of  them  who  had  been  baptised  in 
their  youth,  and  made  a  profession  of  their  faith  in 
the  Christian  religion,  claimed  the  privilege  for  their 
children.  This  was  a  subject  of  warm  dispute,  at 
that  period.  A  synod  was  holden  to  decide  which 
course  was  scriptural.  But,  as  in  all  such  contro- 
versies, the  difference  of  opinion  still  continued. 
The  Old  South  church,  so  called,  in  Boston,  was 
then  formed  by  those  who  opposed  Mr.  Davenport. 

DAVIS,  Hon.  CALEB  was  a  citizen  of  Boston,  and 
much  in  public  life,  as  a  municipal  officer,  a  Magis- 
trate and  legislator,  from  the  age  of  thirty  to  his  death 
in  1797,  when  he  was  about  fifty-six.  He  held  the 
responsible  and  arduous  office  of  selectman  and 
overseer  of  the  poor  several  years.    Much  service  is 


r 


fled  to 
in  the 

them 

much 
t;  and 
1  their 
easure. 
le  kept 
ich  the 
1  New 
[r.  Nor- 
n  1667, 
of  that 
here  as 
vas  or- 
he  first 
ttlement 
in  New 
hief  ob- 
1  Church 
hildrcn, 
Church, 
tised  in 
faith  in 
for  their 

pute,  at 
which 

contro- 

itinued. 

on,  was 

irenport. 

^on,  and 
Magis- 
|is  death 
leld  the 
|an  and 
irvice  is 


TBOMAS   DAT18. 


137 


expeeted  of  such  officers,  without  pecuniary  reward ; 
and   often   they  are  unjustly  censured  by  the  ig« 
norant  and  uninformed.     Mr.   Davis  was  frequer\tfy 
one  of  the  representatives  of  Boston,  in  the  General 
Court;  or  in  the  Senate  ;  and  one  or  two  years  was 
chosen  speaker  of  the  House.  He  first  had  a  seat  in  the 
House,  in  the  year  1776,  when  there  were  eleven 
other  members;  an  unusually  large  number  for  that 
period.     The  number  was  then  commonly  five  or 
six.     At  a    little  later   period,   he  had  a  seat  at 
the  Council  board.      These  were  marks  of  public 
confidence  in  his  good  judgment  and  patriotism  not 
to  be  mistaken.     But  Mr.  Davis  was  not  an  able  de- 
bater in  public  assemblies.      Perhaps  it  was    for- 
tunate that  it  was  not  deemed  necessary,  then,  to 
make  long  declamatory  speeches.     It  may  be  well 
doubted  whether  they  would  have  been  tolerated.  " 
It   was  sufficient,  that  a  member  should  give  his 
opinion,  and  his  reasons  for  that  opinion,  in  as  few 
words  as  might  be  needed  to  be  fully  understood.  . 
Mr.  Davis  was  a  professor  of  religion  ;  and  a  deacon 
of  the  Church  at  the  south  end  of  Boston,  in  Hollis 
street.     He  was  esteemed  as  a  correct  and  sincere 
Christian.     In  his  dress  and  manners  he  was  one  of 
the  old  school  of  gentlemen  ;  many  of  whom  might  ' 
be  named,  ©3  they  are  well  remembered  by  those  of 
the  age  of  seventy-five  or  seventy-six.     They  would 
now  be  considered  precise,  if  not  rather  formal.     But 
their  deportment   inspired   more  respect  than    the 
coarseness  or  indifiercnce  of  modern  times. 

DAVIS,  Hon.  THOMAS  was  a  native  of  Ply. 
mouth,  Massachusetts,  and  was  born  about  the  year 
1758.  His  father  was  concerned  in  trade  and  fish- 
ery in  that  place ;  and  though  he  gave  one  son —  ' 
Hon.  Judge  Davis  of  Boston — a  collegiate  education, 
Thomas  had  no  better  means  of  acquiring  knowl- 
edge in  his  youth,  than  a  common  school,  provided 
12* 


138 


THOMAS    DATIS. 


for /Children  of  all  classes  of  the  ^K^ople.  This  de- 
fect, however,  was  in  a  great  degree  remedied  by 
personal  application  and  study.  With  much  pro- 
priety he  may  be  said  therefore,  to  be  a  self-taught 
man.  Dili^nce,  industry  and  sobriety  were  dis- 
played in  his  conduct  in  very  early  life.  The 
business  of  his  father  probably  led  him  to  give  his 
attention  to  trade  and  navigation,  and  to  subjects 
connected  with  commerce.  He  soon  became  distin- 
guished for  his  information  on  mercantile  affairs; 
and  as  an  accountant;  and  discovered  all  that  accu- 
racy, good  judgment  and  method,  which  are  import- 
ant in  all  departments  of  business,  and  especially  in 
commercial  pursuits.  He  became  concerned  in  nav- 
igation, and  in  the  fisheries,  and  trade  to  the  West 
Indies,  soon  after  his  years  were  such  as  to  render  it 
proper  he  should  engage,  in  business  for  himself.  It 
soon  appeared  that  he  was  accumulating  property ; 
slowly  perhaps,  but  surely.  And  this  is  to  be  chief- 
ly attributed  to  regular  habits,  to  industry,  and  dili- 
gent attention  to  the  business  in  which  he  had  en- 
gaged, ^nd  who  can  justly  expect  to  accumulate 
property,  or  vo  prosper  in  business,  without  diligence, 
method  and  persevering  efforts  1  At  an  earlier  age 
than  is  usual,  he  was  chosen  a  representative  to  the 
General  Court,  for  his  native  town.  And  after  a 
few  years  he  held  a  seat  in  the  Senate,  to  which  he 
was  elected  by  his  fellow  citizens,  who  had  witness- 
ed in  his  course  so  much  good  judgment,  upright- 
ness, and  fidelity,  as  to  deserve  their  entire  regard 
and  confidence. 

Mr.  Davis  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  Senate 
from  Plymouth  County,  at  several  annual  elections; 
and  was  then  appointed  president  of  an  insurance 
company  in  Boston ;  the  second  company  of  that 
character  in  that  ancient  town.  In  this  station  he 
was  continued  till  his  death,  in  1805,  at  the  age  of 
forty-eight.    Few  men  in  the  community,  during  the 


I 


THOMAS  DAWBS. 


139 


lis  de- 
ied  by 
;h  pTO- 
taught 
re  dis- 
The 
ive  his 
lubjects 
distin- 
affairs; 
Lt  accu- 
import- 
ially  in 
in  nav- 
e  West 
ender  it 
self.    It 
operty ; 
)e  chief- 
iiiid  dili- 
lad  en- 
imulate 
ligence, 
Her  age 
3  to  the 

after  a 
lich  he 
Aritness- 
jpright- 

regard 

Senate 
ections ; 
surance 
of  that 
tion  he 
e  age  of 
ring  the 


last  generation,  were  so  much  esteemed  and  confided 
in  as  Mr.  Davis.  He  was  accurate,  judicious,  and 
faithful  in  the  various  stations  which  he  occupied. 
The  interests  of  others  might  be  enlrusted  to  him 
with  perfect  assurance  of  his  care  and  fidelity.  And 
his  conduct,  both  in  pubhc  and  private,  furnish  an 
example  which  may  bo  safely  followed;  and  fully 
prove  that  by  diligence,  sobriety  and  integrity,  a 
young  man  may  justly  expect  a  competency,  if  not 
great  wealth  ;  and  will  certainly  secure  the  esteem 
and  respect  of  his  fellow  men. 

DAWES,  Hon.  THOMAS  a  native  of  Boston, 
had  a  character  for  energy,  activity  and  discrimi- 
nating powers  of  mind  superior  to  that  of  most  men 
of  his  time ;  especially  of  those  who  had  not  the  ad- 
vantages of  a  public  education.  He  was  a  mechanic 
and  a  mason  ;  and  therefore  it  cannot  be  justly  said  of 
him  that  he  was  a  man  of  great  learning.  But, 
with  a  good  common  education,  and  being  fond  of 
reading  he  became  well  acquainted  with  the  his- 
tory of  Massachusetts  and  of  England ;  and  living 
in  a  time  of  dispiiies  on  the  nature  of  civil  rights, 
and  of  the  arbitrary  -neasures  of  the  British  govern- 
ment to  legislate  for  the  American  colonies,  he  be- 
came conversant  with  political  snhjccts.  He  took  a 
deep  interest  in  the  controversy  between  Great  Brit- 
ain and  Massachusetts  in  I7(J5-'75,  as  did  all  intel- 
ligent citizens  of  that  period.  But  all  were  not  so 
well  prepared  to  decide  correctly  on  the  questions 
at  issue.  His  intelligence  and  good  judgment,  united 
to  a  character  for  integrity  and  patriotism,  pointed 
him  out  to  his  fellow-citizens  as  a  proper  person  to 
represent  them  in  the  legislature  of  the  Common- 
wealth ;  and  he  was  several  times  chosen  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  House  of  Assembly  and  of  the  Senate. — 
Col.  Dawes  was  often  called  upon  to  preside  at  town 
meetings  in  Boston,  in  party  times,  when  there  wai 


140 


THOMAS    DAWES. 


much  excitement,  as  in  1793-'94.  He  regulated  the 
meetings  with  great  tact,  and  with  some  manag«- 
£  cnt ;  and  yet  seldom  gave  otience.  He  favored 
the  religious  and  literary  institutions  of  the  State ; 
and  provided  the  means  of  his  time  for  the  education 
of  his  children.  He  had  not  all  the  precision  of  the 
former  generation  ;  and  yet  his  conduct  was  regu- 
lated by  economy  and  industry.  His  costume  was 
that  of  a  gentleman,  but  little  was  expended  merely 
for  display  and  ostentation. 

DAWES,  Hon.  THOMAS  a  son  of  Mr.  Dawes 
before  mentioned,  was  graduated  in  Harvard  Col- 
lege in  1778,  when  he  was  only  eighteen  years  of 
age.  His  character  was  that  of  a  good  classical 
scholar  while  at  college  ;  and  he  also  early  discover- 
ed a  lively  imagination,  which  displayed  itself  in  a 
fondness  for  the  works  of  the  English  poets,  then 
much  circulated  in  New  England.  His  love  of  po- 
esy was  indeed  often  displayed  by  his  personal  ef- 
forts in  this  kind  of  composition :  and  they  were 
much  above  mediocrity.  Some  of  his  poetical  effu- 
sions were  greatly  admired,  and  extensively  circu- 
lated. He  entered  the  profession  of  law ;  and  before 
he  was  forty  years  of  age,  he  was  appointed  one  of 
the  associate  judges  of  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court 
of  Massachusetts.  This  place  he  resigned  after  he 
held  it  some  ten  or  eleven  years ;  and  was  then  ap- 
pointed Judge  of  the  Municipal  Court  for  the  city  of 
Boston,  and  Judge  of  Probate  for  Suffolk  county. — 
Judge  Dawes  cultivated  a  taste  for  polite  literature 
and  the  belles  lettres  ;  and  in  conversation  often 
manifested,  but  without  pedantry,  his  extensive  ac- 
quaintance with  the  best  writers,  both  ancient  and 
modern.  Such  men  polish  and  improve  the  society 
in  which  they  live.  J  udge  Dawes  was  a  member  of 
the  American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences  ;  of  the 
Peace  Society ;  and  of  the  Society  for  Propagating 


BERKY  DEABBOIN. 


141 


' 


the  Gospel  among  the  Indians  and  others  in  North 
America.     He  died  in  1U26,  at  the  aga  of  sixty. 

DEARBORN,  Gen.  HENRY  was  a  citiztin  of 
the  State  of  New  Hampshire.  He  was  engaged 
in  the  military  department,  at  an  early  period  of  the 
Revolutionary  war.  Two  regiments  from  that 
province  repaired  to  the  vicinity  of  Cambridge,  soon 
after  the  affair  at  Concord  and  Lexington,  to  act 
with  the  Massachusetts  troops  in  defence  of  the 
country  in  opposing  the  British  army  then  in  Bos- 
ton. Colonel,  afterwards  General,  Starks  and  Col- 
onel Poor,  commanded  ihem. — They  were  stationed 
at  Medford ;  and  when  the  Americans  under  Colonel 
Prescottat  Charlestown  heights,  were  attacked  by  the 
British  from  Boston,  June  17,  1775,  the  Nev,  Hamp- 
shire regiments  promptly  marched  to  aid  and  support 
the  former.  They  arrived  just  in  season  to  assist, 
which  they  did  with  great  bravery  and  effect.  The 
enemy  were  twice  repulsed.  Mr.  Dearborn  held  a 
Captain's  commission  in  one  of  the  New  Hampshire 
regiments  on  that  day :  and  he  was  in  the  expedition 
against  Quebec,  under  Arnold,  in  1775.  He  con- 
tinued in  the  continental  army  till  the^ose  of  the 
war ;  and  when  -the  army  disbanded  fli5!*f783,  had 
the  rank  of  Major. '  He  had  the  characteir  of  a  brave 
officer;  and  had  borne  a  part  personally  in  several 
battles.  He  settled  on  the  banks  of  the  Kennebec, 
near  Halloweli ;  and  was  sometime  Major-Generai 
of  militia ;  and  a  member  of  Congress  in  1794-1800. 
In  ISUl,  he  was  appointed  Secretary  of  War;  and 
in  1810,  Collector  of  the  customs  for  the  port  of  Bos- 
ton. When  the  war  of  1812  was  declared,  he  re- 
ceived a  commission  as  Major-General,  and  held 
that  rank  till  the  close  of  that  unhappy  war,  in  1816. 
In  one  of  the  expeditions  against  Canada,  in  1813, 
he  was  the  commander.  In  one  campaign.  General 
Wilkinson  commanded.     But  neither  were  success- 


142 


DANISL  DENNISON. 


ful  in  the  attempts  to  conquer  that  British  province. 
Sometime  afier  the  peace,  General  Dearborn  had  an 
appointment  as  Envoy  to  Portugal,  and  continued 
in  that  station  between  two  ana  three  years.  He 
died  in  1830,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years. 

DENNISON,  DANIEL  a  citizen  of  Ipswich,  was 
a  magistrate  or  counsellor,  from  1650  to  1682,  and 
was  much  employed  in  public  business.  For  several 
years  he  held  the  place  of  Major-General,  the  highest 
military  office  next  to  the  governor.  William  Den- 
nison,  admitted  a  freeman,  in  1632,  is  supposed  to 
be  his  father.  General  Dennison  was  one  of  'ihe 
commissioners  to  settle  disputes  in  Maine,  and  to  re- 
ceive the  people  there  under  the  jurisdiction  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, in  1651.  In  1653,  there  was  a  serious 
difficulty  between  New  Haven,  and  the  Dutch  at 
Manhattan,  about  land  on  tne  Delaware,  and  the  en- 
croachment of  the  latter  on  the  south  borders  of 
New  Haven  colony.  General  Dennison  was  one  of 
the  two  commissioners  for  settling  the  dispute. 
Their  report  was  impartial,  judicious,  and  pacific  ; 
and  probably  prevented  a  war  with  the  Dutch  at 
New  York,  at  that  period.  The  advice  given  was 
accepted  by  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts, 
who  said,  "  it  was  not  expedient  for  those  who 
came  to  America  to  extend  the  Gospel  of  peace  to  be 
over  forward  to  engage  in  a  war  with  their  Chris- 
tian neighbors  on  slender  or  inconsiderable  grounds." 
In  the  dispute  between  the  General  Court  and  the 
commissioners  of  Charles  II,  sent  out  to  hold  a  court 
of  appeals  in  New  England  in  1665,  when  a  majori- 
ty opposed  the  exercise  of  such  judicial  authority  in 
the  Colony,  as  improper  and  inconsistent  with  char^ 
ter  rights.  General  Dennison  was  in  the  minority ; 
fearing  the  royal  displeasure,  and  therefore  ready  to 
submit  to  their  arbitrary  proceedings.  But  the  pa- 
triotic party,  with  Bellingh'am  and  Danforth  at  their 


RIOIUBD  DBRBY. 


143 


ovince. 
[lad  an 
1  tinned 

rs.     He 

.18. 

ch,  was 
82,  and 
several 
highest 
m  Den- 
[)osed  10 
e  of  *he 
id  to  Te- 
of  Mas- 
i  serious 
Dutch  at 
id  the  en- 
)rders  of 
is  one  of 
dispute. 

pacific ; 
butch  at 
ven  was 
ichusetts, 
lose  who 
ace  to  be 
lir  Chris- 
jrounds." 
t  and  the 
d  a  court 
a  majori^ 
thority  in 
nth  chai" 
minority ; 

ready  to 
It  the  pa- 
h  at  their 


head,  prevonled  the  holding  of  such  a  tribunal ;  and 
for  the  time,  preserved  the  due  authority  of  the  coU 
onial  government.  (jSeiieral  Dennison  died  in  1683. 
An  essay  written  by  him,  called  Irenicoti,  was  pub- 
lished after  his  death. 

DERBY,  RICHARD  Jli.  Esq.  was  an  eminent 
merchant  of  Salem,  and  took  a  decided  part  in  favor 
of  civil  liberty,  when  the  liritish  ministry  adopted  ar- 
bitrary and  oppressive  measures,  in  1705.  At  that 
period  the  people  of  Salem  elected  him  a  Represent- 
ative to  the  General  Court.  He  was  also  a  member 
of  the  Convention  in  Essex,  September  1774,  called 
to  consult  for  the  maintenance  of  constitutional  lib- 
erty, and  for  the  common  welfare ;  and  of  the  third 
Provincial  Congress  of  Massachusetts  which  met  at 
Watertown,  in  May  1776.  A  board  of  counsellors 
was  constituted  by  that  Congress  to  act  instead  of 
mandamus  counsellors,  so  called,  v  appointed  by 
the  King,  contrary  to  the  charter  of  the  Province. 
Mr.  Derby  was  also  chosen  a  counseller  in  May 
1774 ;  but  received  the  negative  of  Governor  Gage  ; 
and  again  in  1775  and  1776,  he  vci^  elected  to  that 
place  by  the  House  of  Representatives.  As  there 
was  no  governor,  the  council  had  the  executive 
power,  and  was  also  a  branch  of  tho  legislature  ;  till 
the  new  constitution  of  the  Stale  v^as  adopted  iii 
1780.  The  delegates  to  the  provincial  Congress  of 
May,  1775,  which  was  after  the  sword  had  been 
drawn  by  the  British,  and  an  attack  made  on  the 
people  at  Lexington  and  Concord,  April,  19th,  of  that 
year,  must  have  had  so  much  of  the  spirit  of  their 
ancestors,  as  to  risk  both  property  and  life,  for 
the  preservation  of  their  civil  rights  and  liberties. 
The  same  principles  and  spirit  must  have  animated 
those  who  met  in  July,  1775,  as  a  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives, to  devise  means  to  maintain  the  troops 
then  assembled  at  Cambridge  and  vicinity,  for  the 


144 


AABOM   DEXTER — tAMUIL  DEXTER. 


defence  of  the  Province,  iri  struggling  to  maintain  ita 
ancient  political  power,  against  the  despotic  plana 
and  policy  of  the  British  ministry.  The  rich,  who 
made  great  sacrifices  of  property,  gave  perhaps,  the 
strongest  proofs  of  patriotism.  And  many  of  the 
most  opulent  citizens  gave  such  proof,  besides  Han- 
cock, Uowdoin,  Dexter,  Derby,  Pickering,  Green- 
leaf,  Sever,  Phillips,  Lee,  Orne,  Lincoln,  Powell,  and 
Gushing. 

DEXTER,  AARON  M.  D.  M.  M.  S.  was  a  native 
of  Chelsea,  and  rt^ccived  his  public  education  in 
Harvard  College,  with  the  class  of  1776.  He  attend- 
ed to  the  practice  of  physic  in  Boston,  many  years, 
with  high  reputation  among  his  medical  brethren. 
His  practice  was  very  extensive,  until  the  infirmities 
of  old  age  induced  him  to  relinquish  it.  Dr.  Dexter 
had  a  great  taste  for  reading,  and  was  acquainted 
with  all  the  valuable  publications  of  his  time.  He 
had  a  fondness  for  chemical  inquiries  and  studies  ; 
and  when  a  professorship  of  chemisty  was  formed  in 
the  University,  in  the  year  1783,  he  was  chosen 
the  professor.  Dr.  Dexter  survived  to  a  good  old 
age  ;  enjoying  to  the  last  the  regard  and  affections  i)f 
a  large  circle  of  friends. 

DEXTER,  Hon.  SAMUEL  was  the  son  of  R«v. 
Mr.  Dexter  of  Dedham ;  but  passed  many  years  af- 
ter he  was  twenty-one  in  mercantile  pursuits,  in 
Boston.  By  diligence  and  probity,  he  accumulated 
a  good  estate  before  he  was  fifty  ;  not  indeed  what 
would  satisfy  many  at  the  present  day,  now  that  tha 
style  of  living  is  so  much  more  expensive  :  but  what 
he  deemed  sufficient  for  a  comfortable  and  decent 
subustence.  Mr.  Dexter  had  a  good  education,  and 
was  fond  of  reading  and  study.  He  had  read  much 
on  history;  especially  that  of  England;  and  few 
undontood  the  constitution,  or  the  nature  and  pria- 


SAMVIL  DEITBR/ 


Itf 


i 


lain  iu 
plans 
h,  who 
ips,  the 
of  the 
}s  Han- 
Green- 
ell,  and 


a  native 
;auon  in 
e  aitend- 
ly  years, 
brethren, 
afirroities 
f.  Dexter 
•quainted 
ime.    He 
I  studies ; 
[formed  in 
3  chosen 
good  old 
fections  sti 

.of  R«^- 
years  af- 
krsuits,  in 
Cumulated 
[eed  what 
w  that  the 
but  what 
ad  decent 
[ation,  and 
ead  much 
and  few 
and  prin- 


ciples of  the  British  monarchical  government  better  * 
than  he  did.  In  the  dispute  between  the  British  gov*  \ 
emmentand  the  American  Colonies,  which,  though  it ' 
did  not  begin  in  1764,  was  then  received  with  pecu- 
liar earnestness,  Mr.  Dexter  took  an  acctive  part;  and 
was  long  one  of  the  leading  characters  among  the 
patriotic  opposers  of  the  arbitrary  power  exercised 
or  claimed  by  Parliament  over  the  Colonial  legisla- 
tures.   The  great  question  was,  as  to  the  extent  of 
authority  the  Parliament  might  rightfully  exercise 
in  legislating  for  and  controlling  the  people  or  their 
representatives  in  America.    The  British  ministry 
and  a  majority  of  Parliament  claimed  a  supreme  and 
unlimited  power  over  the  Colonies ;  and  contended 
that  they  had  *'  a  right  to  bind  the  American  people  in 
all  eases  whatever."  But  this  would  be  absolute  des- 
potism on  one  part,  and  abject  submission  and  slave- 
ry on  the  other.    The  sreat  body  of  the  people  in 
Massachusetts,  rich  and  poor,  learned  and  illiterate, 
landholders  and  laborers,  all  excepting  the  few  who 
held  office  under  the  British  government,  were  op- 
posed to  the  doctrine  advanced,  and  to  the  authority 
claimed  for  the  Parliament  in  England ;  and  early 
resolved,  with  great  unanimity,  to  resist  the'  claim. 
For  it  was  incompatible  with  their  rights  as  English- 
men ;  it  was  in  violation  of  their  charter ;  it  was 
contrary  to  the  spirit  of  the  British  Constitution,  and 
to  the  principles  of  the  glorlaus  revolution  of  1688. 
They  were  not    represented  in    Parliament;    and 
therefore  could  not  justly  be  bound  by  its  laws. — 
There  was  a  House  of  Commons  in  the  Province, 
composed  of  representatives  of  the  people,  and  this 
was  the  only  body  which  could  rightfully  legislate 
for  them  in  all  internal  concerns,  as  laving  taxes,  ^. 
And  yet  allegiance  was  acknowledged  to  the  king; 
and  his  negative,  duly  expressed,   admitted  on  the 
laws  passed  by  the  Colonial  Assembly.     Mr.  Dexter 
was  one  of  the  most  able  and  intelligent  disputants 
13 


«*«= 


146 


SAMUIL  DBZTBB. 


m 


of  that  memorable  period,  on  the  part  of  Colonial 
rights  and  liberties.  James  Otis,  Joseph  Warren, ,. 
and  Joseph  Hawley  were  more  ardent,  Samuel  Ad* 
ams  more  resolute,  perhaps,  on  some  questions  and 
emergencies  ;  but  such  characters  as  Dexter,  Bow* 
doin,  professor  Wintlirop,  and  John  Adams,  were 
equally  necessary.  They  informed  the  people ;  they 
confuted  Governors  Bernard  and  Hutchinson;  thev» 
pointed  out  the  danger  of  the  policy  of  the  British 
ministry  ;  and  they  convinced  their  fellow-citizens 
that  all  which  waj  dear  to  them  was  at  stake.  These 
intelligent  patriots  were  firm,  decided,  resolute,  but 
not  unduly  precipitate  or  imprudently  zealous.  Uliu 
Dexter  was  a  member  of  the  council  before  the  Rev- 
olution — but  sometimes  when  chosen  was  negatived 
)7  the  Governor.  For  several  years,  between  1765 
and  1775,  Mr.  Dexter  was  on  the  most  important 
committees,  either  of  the  House  or  of  the  Council, 
which  prepared  resolutions  and  made  reports  of  great 
moment,  relating  to  the  existing  controversy  with 
England.  In  1776,  £777,  and  some  years  after,  he 
was  one  of  the  Supreme  Executive  Council  of  the 
Slate.  When  he  had  nearly  reached  the  common 
age  of  man,  he  declined  all  public  service,  and  em- 
ployed his  time  in  reading  or  writing,  chiefly  on 
religious  subjects.  The  sacred  volume  frequently 
received  his  attention  aud  examination.  He  fully 
assented  to  its  divine  inspiration;  and  yet  was  a 
liberal  or  protestant  inquirer.  His  opinions  were 
in  accordance  with  Arminian  divines.  He  was 
strongly  opposed  to  the  Calvinistic  system.  When 
chosen  a  member  of  the  society  for  propagating  the 
gospel,  he  frankly  declared  he  could  not  send  mis- 
sionaries, who  would  insist  on  the  peculiar  tenets  of 
that  creed.  He  published  an  essay  on  the  text, 
'*  Jacob  have  i  loved,  but  Esau  I  have  hated." 


DEXTER,  Hon.  SAMUEL  L  L.  D.  son  of  Mr. 


*^i 


JOtBPH     DUDLBT. 


147 


lonial 
arren, 
)l  Ad-  ' 
18  and  ^ 
Bow-  ' 
weie  ' 

;  th«y 
;  th«y 

kitish 
itizent  " 
Thcw 
te,  butM 

leRer-" 
ratived 
a  1765 
portant 
louncil, 
)f  great 
y  with 
fter,  he 
1  of  the 
'ommon 
&nd  em- 
iefly  on 
»quently 
ie  fully 
[  was  a 
ns  were 
He  was 
When 
iting  the 
end  mis- 
tenets  of 
the  text, 
id." 

ti  of  Mr. 


Dexter  referred  to  in  the  preceding  article,  was  an 
alumnus  of  Harvard  College,  and  received  the  de- 
gree of  A.  B.  in  1781.  He  early  gave  indications  of 
a  discriminating  and  powerful  mind.  He  was  dis- 
tinguished as  a  close  reasoner  and  an  able  logician  ; 
and  could  well  act  the  part  of  an  acute  disputant. 
The  law  was  chosen  for  his  profession — and  he 
surpassed  most  of  his  time  as  a  pleader.  With  the  ju- 
ry he  had  unccmmon  power.  Though  well  read,  as 
a  lawyer,  he  chose  rather  to  establish  the  justice  of 
his  cause,  and  to  convince  the  jurors  that  equity 
was  on  the  side  of  his  client.  He  practised  several 
years  in  the  Counties  of  Middlesex  and  Suffolk ;  and 
his  business  was  very  extensive.  Mr.  Dexter  was  also 
distinguished  as  an  orator  and  politician.  On  sever- 
al occasions  he  was  called  upon  to  address  his 
fellow  citizens,  and  all  who  had  the  privilege  of  hear- 
ing him  were  gratilled  with  his  correct  elocution  and 
happy  illustrations.  He  excelled  in  the  argumenta- 
tive parts  of  his  address,  and  yet  he  was  not  unfre- 
Jpently  pathetic  and  impressive  in  appealing  to  the 
eelings  and  the  moral  sense.  He  was  in  the  Sen- 
ate of  the  United  States  from  Massachusetts ;  and 
no  member  of  that  highly  respectahle  assembly  was 
deemed  superior  to  him  in  argument  or  persuasive 
eloquence.  Mr.  Dexter  was  a  public  professor  of  re- 
iigion,  and  like  his  father  was  able  to  give  reasons 
for  his  faith ;  for  like  him,  his  belief  in  the  Christian 
revelation  was  the  result  of  rational  and  fair  inquiry. 
He  died  in  1816,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six,  in  the  midst 
of  usefulness  and  fame ;  for  he  was  one  of  those  gift- 
ed and  honorable  men  whom  his  fellows  delight  to 
honor. 

t>  DUDLEY,  Hon.  JOSEPH  son  of  Governor 
Thomas  Dudley,  was  born  in  the  year  1647,  when 
his  father  was  seventy-one  years  of  age;  and  re- 
ceived a  degree  in  Harvard  College,  in  1665.    He 


148 


JOSEPH  DUDLEY. 


If  I 


was  appointed  a  magistrate  in  the  colony  at  an  early 
age ;  and  generally  acted  with  those  who  were  for  , 
supporting  the  prerogatives  of  the  crown,  and  limit- 
ing the  civil  and  political  powers  of  the  colonial 
government.  This  political  bias  was  apparent  in  his 
conduct,  soon  after  he  entered  on  public  life ;  and 
continued  till  his  death,  in  1720,  when  he  was  seven- 
ty-three years  of  age.  He  had  good  talents,  and  an 
education  to  fit  him  for  public  service  in  the  colony ; 
and  he  had  ambition  also,  and  a  love  of  power  fully 
corresponding  with  his  ability.  He  received  some 
marks  of  disapprobation  from  the  people,  on  account 
of  his  apology  for  measures  of  the  British  ministry 
relating  to  the  province,  which  were  deemed  arbi- 
trary and  unjust ;  and  hence  became  an  object  of  fa- 
vor with  the  administration  of  England.  He  carried 
Hub  doctrine  of  submission  to  royal  and  ministerial 
authority  to  a  dangerous  degree ;  so  as  to  subject  the 
civil  liberties  of  the  colonists  solely  to  the  will  and 
pleasure  of  the  king.  He  even  denied  that  they  had 
any  rights ;  resolving  all  their  privileges  into  the  royal 
grace  and  favor.  When  some  complained  that  their 
charter  powers  were  curtailed  by  the  ministry  in  Eng- 
land, and  that  their  rights  as  Englishmen  were  vio- 
lated or  disregarded,  by  orders  from  the  king,  he  said, 
*'  that  they  could  not  expect  to  carry  the  rights  of  Eng- 
lishmen to  the  ends  of  the  earth."  He  expressed  a  re- 
gard, indeed,  for  the  welfare  and  prosperity  of  the 
province,  in  which  he  had  his  birth  ;  but  like  Hutcl^- 
mson,  at  a  later  period,  he  was  too  subservient  to 
men  in  power,  with  a  view  to  political  promotion. 
He  was  made  president,  or  chief  magistrate  of  Mas- 
sachusetts for  a  short  time^  in  1686,  the  year  after 
James  H,  had  annulled  the  charter.  It  was  proof 
enough  with  all  intelligent  men,  that  he  was  more  of 
a  courtier  than  a  patriot,  in  that  he  was  willing  to 
accept  the  appointment,  by  which  he  could  gov«m 
in  an  arbitrary  manner,  without  a  House  of  Kepre- 


' 


i 


PAOL  DUOLBT.' 


149' 


rere  for  , 
id  limit- 
colonial 
ntinhis 
ife;  and 
,8  seven- 
,  and  an 
colony ; 
fer  fully 
ed  some 
account 
ministry 
led  arbi- 
sct  of  fa- 
e  carried 
inisterial 
bject  the 
will  and 
they  had 
the  royal 
hat  their 
nnEng- 
were  vio- 
,  he  said, 
sofEng- 
ssedare- 
y  of  the 
e  Hutcl)- 
rvient  to 
romotioB. 
i  of  Mas- 
ear  after 
ras  proof 
9  moie  of 
Krilliog  to 
d  goY«m 
if  Repre- 


sentatives, which  had  been  disallowed  by' th^kfhg. 
His  old  friends  on  the  side  of  liberty  and  of  charter 
rights,  asked  him  how  he  could  accept  such  a  com- 
mission, but  he  gave  no  satisfactory  answer,  he  only 
replied,  "  that  he  saw  no  impropriety  in  taking  any 
commission  from  his  king."  When  Sir  Edmund 
Andros  came  into  the  colony,  as  governor,  in  Decem- 
ber 1686,  with  the  same  firbitrary  authority,  Dudley 
was  one  of  his  council ;  and  with  a  few  others,  acted 
with  him  in  measures  to  oppress  and  not  protect  the 
people,  or  to  maintain  justice  and  civil  liberty  in  the 
common'iv^c.  Uh;  but  most  of  those  appointed  his 
councilloi?'  ,  .^'-.d  to  take  any  part  in  his  arbitrary 
governmer  .  a  r.  Dudley  received  the  appointment 
of  governor  of  tlie  province,  in  1702,  after  the  short 
administration  of  the  Earl  of  Bellamont,  and  was 
continued  in  the  oflSce  twelve  years.  Rev.  Increase 
Mather,  and  Ins  son,  Rev.  Cotton  Mather,  were  much 
opposed  to  the  administration  of  Governor  Dudley, 
especially  in  the  latter  part  of  it ;  and  accused  him 
of  partiality,  and  even  of  gross  injustice  in  some 
cases.  But  iixe  friends  of  the  governor  charged  them 
with  undue  prejudices  against  him,  as  he  did  not  fol- 
low their  advice  and  dictation. — The  Mathers  had 
good  cause  for  their  complaints  and  censures. 

DUDLEY,  Hon.  PAUL  was  a  son  of  Governor 
Joseph  Dudley,  and  had  his  public  education  in 
Harvard  College,  where  he  received  his  first  degree, 
in  1690.  He  read  law  a  short  time  in  the  province; 
and  afterwards  visited  England,  for  the  advantage 
of  studying  in  the  Temple.  Probably  no  one  who 
was  a  native  of  Massachusetts  had  previously  en- 
joyed that  privilege.  On  his  return  to  the  province ; 
he  received  the  office  of  Attorney-General,  which  he 
held  for  several  years ;  when  he  subsequently  held 
a  seat  on  the  bench  of  the  Superior  Court  of  Judica- 
ture. He  had  some  enemies,  and  was  charged  with 
13» 


|T|»ifti<«i«iriiiiaiHiiigftniwiliii<iiaB^ 


*150 


THOMAS  DUDLBT. 


a  diipotitlon  to  support  the  measures  of  the  parent 
goyemment,  however  arbitrary.  Yet  he  had  many 
friends ;  and  his  conduct,  as  a  judge,  was  generally 
approved.  He  had  the  character  of  an  upright  ma- 
gistrate ;  and  his  abilities  were  such  as  to  command 
the  respect  of  his  contemporaries.  For  several  years, 
towards  the  close  of  his  life,  he  held  the  important 
ofKce  of  Chief  Justice.  He  may  justly  be  ranked 
among  the  most  learned  men  of  his  time.  He  pub- 
lished several  essays  on  the  natural  history  of  Amer- 
ica, particularly  of  New  England,  which  were  cir- 
culated in  England,  and  excited  the  attention  of 
naturalists  in  that  kingdom ;  and  soon  after  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Royal  Society  at  London. 
He  was  a  firm  believer  in  Christianity,  and  a  strict 
puritan,  like  his  grandfather ;  and  he  left  a  legacy 
to  maintain  an  annual  lecture  to  be  delivered  in  Har- 
vard College,  on  natural  and  revealed  religion,  on 
the  errors  of  the  church  of  Rome,  and  on  the  validi^ 
ty  of  presbyterian  ordination. 

DUDLEY,  Hon.  THOMAS  was  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal characters  of  the  Massachusetts  company  by 
which  Boston  and  vicinity  were  settled  in  1630. 
He  was  one  of  the  oldest  of  the  first  settlers,  being  at 
the  age  of  fifty-four  years  when  the  company  first 
came.  He  died  in  1653,  aged  seventy-seven  years. 
When  they  came  over  he  was  deputy-governor  of  the 
company,  having  been  chosen  to  that  place  the  year 
before  they  left  England  :  John  Winthrop  was  then, 
and  many  years  auer,  the  Governor-in-Chief.  Mr. 
Dudley  was  chosen  Governor  three  years  during  the 
life  of  Winthrop,  and  two  years  after  his  death.  He 
is  represented  as  a  rigid  puritan,  and  of  narrow 
views  in  religion.  He  had  less  charity  for  heretics, 
or  for  those  who  did  not  entirely  agree  with  him  in 
his  religious  creed,  than  Governor  Winthrop.  There 
is  no  doubt  of  his  sincere  piety ;  but  his  exclusive 


THOMAS  DUDLIT. 


101 


▼i«W8,  especially  his  opinion  in  favor  of  perseentiog 
or  excommunicating  all  who  differed  from  him  in 
sentiment,  would  be  deemed  highly^  improper  at  the 
present  time.  It  was  owing  to  his  influence  with 
that  of  two  or  three  others,  that  Roger  Williams  and 
the  Quakers  were  banished  and  cruelly  persecuted. 
He  supposed  he  had  discovered  and  embraced  the 
trne  faith,  and  indulged  in  an  intolerant  spirit  and 
conduct  toward  all  who  adopted  religious  opinions 
in  any  measure  differing  from  his  own.  Governor 
Dudley  possessed  respectable  talents,  and  had^a  con- 
siderable knowledge  of  the  world ;  he  had  been  an 
officer  in  Holland  before  he  came  to  America,  and 
before  he  joined  the  puritans.  He  resided  some 
years  in  Cambridge,  which  was  then  called  the  New- 
town.  Sometime  at  Ipswich,  then  in  Boston,  and  in 
Soxbury,  where  he  had  real  estate,  and  was  long  pos- 
sessed by  his  descendants  aftei  wards.  He  opposed 
the  fanatical  views  of  Ann  Hutchinson,  who  was  an 
antinomian,  and  in  other  respects  a  very  visionary 
woman,  and  of  great  zeal  in  her  efforts  to  make 
converts.  A  feeling  of  assurance  that  shewed  she 
was  converted,  and  a  child  of  God,  was  all  she  re- 
quired as  necessary  to  constitute  her  a  true  Chris- 
tiam .'  and  that  a  holy  life  was  no  evidence  of  faith 
or  piety.  She  was  believed  to  have  religious  princi- 
ples and  to  be  sincerely  pious ;  but  her  views  were 
considered  erroneous,  contrary  to  the  gospel,  and  of 
dangerous  tendency  in  society.  And  some  cf  her 
converts,  or  followers,  were  grossly  immoral  and 
licentious.  She  was  banished  the  Colony,  instead 
of  being  unopposed  and  unnoticed,  which  would 
probably  have  prevented  the  spread  of  her  fanciful 
views.  She  was  the  first  "  transcendantalist "  in 
Bfassachusetts ;  paying  more  deference  to  her  own 
feelings  than  to  the  plain  declarations  of  the  Saviour. 
Winthrop,  Dudley,  Rev.  Mr.  Wilson  of  Boston,  and 
most  others  among  the  men  of  influence  in  the  Colo- 


^1 


rT"T"'jr-.,iWffiriT 


f 


^ 


i5e 


JBRBMUH   DUMMIR. 


nf,  condemned  her  religions  views;  and  as  she 
would  not  refrain  from  urging  them  and  denouncing 
the  learned  ministers  as  legal  preachers,  they,  order- 
ed  her  to  depart  the  Colony. 

DUMMER,  Hon.  JEREMIAH  has  been  generally 
reputed  one  of  the  most  able  and  learned  men  Mas- 
sachusetts has  produced :  especially  in  the  more 
early  days  of  the  Colony.  His  family  was  highly 
respectable,  and  several  of  them  sustained  important 

Sublic  offices  in  Church  and  State.  His  ancestor, 
.ichard  Dummer,  and  probably  his  grandfather, 
came  to  Massachusetts  in  1632,  and  married  the 
widow  of  Rev.  Mr.  Burr  of  Dorchester,  in  1642. 
Mr.  Dummer  was  educated  in  Harvard  College,  and 
received  his  degree  in  1699.  Several  of  the  class 
had  the  reputation  of  being  better  scholars  than 
most  who  had  then  received  their  education  in  the 
country.  But  Mr.  Dummer  was  esteemed,  by  those 
able  to  judge,  to  have  surpassed  all  others.  On 
leaving  college,  he  studied  theology  and  preached  a 
few  months ;  but  with  all  his  talents  and  learning 
he  was  not  a  very  popular  preacher.  As  he  had  not 
an  immediate  invitation  to  settle  in  the  ministry,  he 
went  to  England ;  and  thence  passed  over  to  Hol- 
land, and  was  sometime  a  resident  in  the  University' 
at  Leyden.  Here  also  he  had  the  character  of  an 
excellent  scholar,  and  received  the  degree  of  Doctor 
PhUosophia.  He  soon  returned  to  England,  and 
gave  his  attention  principally  to  the  subject  of  poli- 
tics :ind  of  jurisprudence.  And  in  whatever  subject 
he  engaged,  he  soon  acquired  a  competent  knowl- 
edge. He  wrote  on  the  charter  rights  of  Massachu-j 
setts  colony  and  legislature,  in  an  able  manner ;  and 
his  opinion  of  the  extent  of  powers  granted  by  that 
instrument  has  often  been  quoted  as  correct,  and  as^ 
more  favorable  to  the  construction  giveti  it  by  the 
whigs  in  the  colony,  than  by  the  British  ministry. 


WILLIAM  VOMMtS. 


163 


Mr.  Dammer  was  ■ometime  an  agent,  when  inOig- 
land,  for  Massachusetts,  and  he  always  diligentiy 
and  faithfully  attended  to  the  interests  of  the  Pr" 
ince.  In  this  capacity,  he  became  acquainted  tu.  '. 
had  frequent  intercourse  with  the  most  learned 
characters  in  that  country ;  as  well  as  with  some  in 
high  political  office.  In  the  latter  part  of  his  life, 
he  was  suspected  of  a  degree  of  skepticism  on  the 
subject  of  the  Christian  religion.  But  it  has  been 
rendered  probable,  that  this  suspicion  was  confined 
to  those  who  deemed  a  denial  of  Calvinism,  a  re- 
nunciation of  Christianity.  He  died  in  1739,  at  the 
age  of  sixty.  His  publications  are,  a  discourse  on 
the  holiness  of  the  Sabbath ;  a  dissertation  on  the 
descent  of  Christ  into  hell ;  and  a  letter  to  a  noble 
lord,  on  the  expedition  to  Canada,  stating  the  great 
efforts  made  by  Massachusetts  for  the  conquest  of 
that  province. 

DUMMER,  Hon.  WILLIAM  was  .  at  New- 
bury, in  the  County  of  Essex.  Early  la  life  he  vis- 
ited England ;  and  when  in  that  country  in  1716,  he 
received  the  appointment  of  Lieutenant  Governor  of 
Massachusetts,  at  the  time  Samuel  Shute  was  placed 
in  the  chair  of  Chief  Magistrate.  Governor  Shute 
left  the  province  in  1723,  on  account  of  a  dispute 
with  the  General  Court  04:  the  subject  of  his  salary; 
and  Mr.  Dummer  acted  as  Chief  Magistrate  during 
three  years,  when  William  Burnet  was  appointed 
Governor ;  and  again  in  1729,  Mr.  Burnet  naving 
retired  from  the  chair,  Mr.  Dammer  was  at  the  heaa 
of  the  provincial  government  for  another  year.  He 
enjoyed  the  confidence  of  the  people  in  a  great  de- 
gree, for  his  impartiality  and  prudence,  and  his  re- 
gard to  the  public  welfare.  During  his  administra- 
tion the  en  stem  Indians,  on  the  Kennebec,  Penobscot, 
and  in  other  parts  c^  Maine,  frequently  attacked  the 
scattered  English  settlements ;  but  they  were  check- 


-■n-TT  TrJS 


jljK 


154 


TIMOTBT  DWIGHT. 


ed  by  the  prompt  efforts  of  Governor  Dummer ;  and 
treaties  were  made  with  them,  which  served  for 
many  years  to  maintain  peace  in  that  territory.  His 
religious  views  coincided  fully  with  the  congrega- 
tional clergy  of  his  time.  He  received  the  rebuke 
of  the  British  ministry  for  approving  of  a  synod  or 
convention  of  the  clergy  in  Massachusetts,  in  1726, 
without  first  consulting  the  king  and  his  council. 
This  was  supposed  to  be  owing  to  the  influence  of 
the  bishops  and  High  Church  party  in  England, 
which  was  then  very  jealous  of  the  exclusive  eccle- 
siastical power  claimed  by  the  clergy  of  New  Eng- 
land, in  ^all  religious  concerns.  The  bishops  and 
prelates  in  Great  Britain  had  always,  from  the  early 
settlement  of  the  colonies,  sought  to  dictate  and  con- 
trol in  this  jrespect.  But  it  was  not  to  be  expected 
that  those  men,  or  the  children  of  those  men,  who 
had  suffered  so  much  for  religious  freedom,  would 
submit  to  the  will  or  pleasure  of  a  distant  hierarchy. 
Fort  Dummer,  on  the  Connecticut,  in  the  north-west 
part  of  Massachusetts,  and  near  the  boundary  line 
of  that  province  and  New  Hampshire,  and  built  in 
1725,  was  called  after  the  Lieutenant  Governor. 
He  lived  to  a  great  age,  and  died  in  1761. 

DWIGHT,  Rev.  TIMOTHY  D.  D.  L  L.  D.  was 

educated  in  Yale  College,  and  there  received  his 
first  degree  in  1769 ;  and  after  the  usual  course  of 
reading  in  theology  was  ordained  in  the  town  of 
Fairfield,  in  Connecticut.  He  also  was  the  principal 
of  an  academy  in  that  town,  for  several  years,  with 
a  high  reputation  as  a  teacher  of  youth.  He  was 
everywhere  received  as  an  able  divine  and  a  power- 
ful preacher.  His  talents  were  of  a  superior  order, 
his  learning  as  a  theologian  extensive,  and  his  man- 
ner imposing  and  dignified.  On  the  decease  of  Rer. 
Dr.  Styles,  1795,  he  was  elected  President  of  Yale 
College,  and  the  choice  was  highly  judicious.    For 


TIMOTHY  DWIOBT. 


155 


oer;  and 
,rved  for 
)ry.    His 
Bongrega- 
le  rebuke 
svnod  OT 
,  in  1T26, 
s  council, 
ifluence  of 
England, 
sive  eccle- 
Ncw  Eng- 
ishops  and 
n  the  early 
te  and  con- 
)e  expected 
J  men,  who 
dom,  would 
,t  hierarchy. 
5  north-west 
>undary  line 
nd  built  in 
t  Governor. 

.761. 

„  L.  D.  was 
received  his 
^al  course  of 
the  town  of 
the  principal 
years,  with 
th.    He  was 
and  a  power- 
perior  order, 
ind  his  man- 
cease  of  Key* 
jent  of  Yale 
dicioui.    For 


the  character  of  Dr.  Dwight  was  then  eminebt,  both 
as  a  scholar  and  theologian.  And  his  elocution  aliOy 
it  was  believed,  would  be  of  great  benefit  to  the  stu- 
dents, especially  to  those  designed  for  public  speak- 
ers, either  in  the  pulpit  or  at  the  bar.  The  founda- 
tion of  his  literary  character  was  laid  in'a  good  claui- 
cal  education,  in  reading  the  works  of  the  best  writers, 
and  in  diligent  study  afterwards,  devoting  more 
time  than  is  usual  with  men  of  a  public  education 
to  the  acquisition  of  knowledge  in  the  various  branch- 
es of  literature.  Like  all  other  distinguished  schol- 
ars; he  was  therefore,  in  a  great  mea>iure,  the  maker 
of  his  own  literary  fame.  He  early  enjoyed  great 
advantages  for  learning ;  hut  without  uncommon 
application,  he  would  not  have  attained  the  high  po- 
sition he  held  in  the  literary  world.  Dr.  Dwight 
f>roved  a  prudent  and  faithful  governor  of  the  Col- 
ege,  as  well  as  a  learned  and  able  instructor.  Be- 
sides his  general  superintendence  of  the  seminary, 
both  as  to  students  and  subordinate  teachers,  he  gave 
lectures  in  theology  and  ecclesiastical  history ;  and  in 
these  branches  he  was  peculiarly  eminent;  as  his 
sermons  and  "  Body  of  Divinity,"  abundantly  prove. 
That  all  his  theological  opinions  were  correct,  it  is 
not  intended  to  assert ;  for  he  was  fallible  and  unin- 
spired. But  the  work  furnishes  evidence  of  exten- 
sive learning,  and  of  uncommon  powers  of  intellect. 
There  are  few,  if  any  human  systems  of  divinity 
which  are  not  assailable  for  some  evident  mistakes, 
or  some  disagreement  with  the  plain  declarations  of 
the  inspired  scriptures.  And  yet  they  may  serve  on 
the  whole,  to  support  the  great  cause  of  religion,  and 
to  teach  its  fundamental  and  essential  truths.  For 
where  these  are  admitted  and  inculcated,  no  deep  in- 
jury will  arise  from  some  speculative  errors.  The 
Christian  character  may  still  be  formed  and  main- 
tained. It  is  only  when  speculative  tenets,  which 
are  not  plainly  stated  in  scripture,  and  which  result 


» ' 


156 


BUPHALIT   DTIl. 


merely  from  the  constructions  and  reasonings  of  fal- 
lible men,  are  urged  as  essential  to  Christian  faith  and 
piety,  that  they  become  greatly  injurious,  orobjeo- 
tionable.  Christian  teachers  should  be  careful  not 
to  make  any  doctrinal  point  essential,  except  there 
is  most  evident  and  unequivocal  authority  for  it  in 
the  teachings  of  Christ  and  his  inspired  apostles^ 
The  publications  of  Dr.  Dwight  were  very  numer- 
ous. Besides  sermons,  he  published  lectures  on 
infidel  philosophy,  travels  in  New  England,  c(«- 
taining  much  information  of  public  men,  of  towns 
and  their  statistics,  and  history,  and  of  the  manners 
of  die  people — a  system  of  Christian  theology ;  and 
a  poem,  with  the  title  of  "  the  Conquest  of  Canaan." 
He  was  one  of  the  founders  of"  the  American  Board 
of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions;"  and  an 
early  and  efficient  member  of  "  the  American  Bible 
Society."  He  died  in  1816,  while  he  held  the 
offioe  of  President  of  Yale  College,  which  he  had 
th^  filled  for  twenty  years. 

DYER,  ELIPHALET  LL.  D.,  a  native  of  the 
State  of  Connecticut,  received  his  education  in 
Yale  College,  with  the  class  of  1744,  and  engaged 
in  the  profession  of  law  at  Windham,  in  that  State. 
He  was  reputed  one  of  the  ablest  lawyers  in  that 
part  of  New  England,  and  held  the  office  of  Chief  Jus- 
tice of  the  highest  tribunal  in  Connecticut  for  several 
years.  He  sat  in  the  first  Continental  Congress 
which  convened  at  Philadelphia,  in  September  1774, 
and  was  composed  of  men  the  most  distinguished  in 
all  the  colonies  at  that  eventful  period,  for  their  patri- 
otism and  wisdom.  Though  a  small  State,  Connec- 
ticut lias  always  furnished  able  and  upright  men  in 
thai  councils  of  the  nation.  Trumbull,  Sherman, 
Huntington^  Wolcott,  Griswold,  Hillhouse,  Tracy, 
EBsiwortb,  Dana,  and  Pitkin,  were  distinguished  as 
members  of  th6  federal  government,  either  in  tfao 


CLIPRALBT  DYCB. 


107 


of  f al" 
ihand 
objeo- 
al  noi^ 
t  there.") 
)T  it  mi 
postlesw.o 
Qumer^H*- 
ires  on 
d,  con- 
[  towns 
aanners 
jy,  and 
anaan." 
n  Board 
and  an 
an  Bible 
held  the 
he  had 


House  of  Representatives  or  in  the  Senate.  Judge 
Dyer  reached  the  age  of  eighty-five,  and  died  in  the 
year  1807.  He  always  gave  his  influence  in  favor 
of  learning,  good  morals,  religious  institutions,  and 
social  order.  If  not  so  brilliant  or  eloquent  as  a  few 
others  of  his  State  and  time,  he  dirplayed  the  more 
\iseful  qualities  of  decision,  moderation,  and  good 
judgment ;  and  seemed  to  aim  at  the  faithful  dis- 
charge of  duty  both  in  public  and  private  life. 

U 


gre  of  the  I 
cation  in  < 
I  engaged.* 
hat  State.  (1 
s  in  that  3 
Chief  Jus- 
br  several 

Congress 
aber  1774, 
guishedin 
their  patri- 
ae Connec- 
jht  men  in 

Sherman, 
se,  Tracy, 
iguished  as 

her  in  the 


:!':T^  tiisii'i'  ■■  y^;;»a.,.rt?i;i^^V4;;,„.  *■..';: .;'  tsw?  tm^ 


..wi-:astaira;A..,  ,^^ 


^^ 


I      t 


CHAPTER  V. 


E 


EATON,  Hon.  THEOPHILUS  came  to  New 
England  in  1637,  with  a  company  attacliF.d  to  hini, 
of  which  were  Mr.  Hqpkins,  hin  father-in-law,  and 
Rev.  John  Davenport.  They  were  invited  to  settle 
near  Newbury,  but  declined  ;  and  soon  removed  to 
New  Haven,  in  the  south  part  of  Connecticut. 
These  were  all  puritans,  or  non-coiifofmists ;  and 
had  suffered  much  in  England  for  their  religious 
opinions;  especially  Mr.  Davenport.  Eaton  and 
Hopkins  were  men  of  large  estates ;  and  the  former 
had  travelled  much  on  the  continent  of  Europe, 
partly  for  the  purposes  of  trade.  Mr.  Eaton  attend- 
ed little  to  merchandise  in  America ;  bul  engaged  in 
agriculture.  Much  of  his  time,  however,  was  de- 
voted to  public  affairs.  He  was  a  man  of  public 
spirit;  and  the  Governor  of  the  Colony  from  1648, 
to  the  time  of  his  death  in  1657.  Mr.  Hopkins  re- 
turned to  England  after  a  residence  of  a  few  years 
at  New  Haven  ;  of  which  he  was  sometime  Govern- 
or, before  Mr.  Eaton.  He  was  a  generous  benefactor 
of  Harvard  College,  at  an  early  day,  when  its  funds 
were  small.  This  company  at  New  Haven,  under 
Mr.  Eaton,  was  a  great  addition  to  the  strength  and 
prosperity  of  New  England.  They  traded  with  the 
Dutch  at  Hudson's  river ;  and  this  intercourse  had 
on  the  whole  a  favorable  effect.     There  were  some- 


JOSEPH   BCKLIT. 


169 


to  New 
I  to  him, 
-law,  and 
1  to  settle 
■moved  to 
)nnecticut. 
nists;  and 
>  religious 
3aton  and 
ihe  former 
f  Europe, 
ton  attend- 
engaged  in 
was  de- 
of  public 
rom  1642, 
opkins  re- 
few  years 
Tie  Govem- 
}  benefactor 
m  its  funds 
ven,  under 
irength  and 
ed  with  the 
•course  had 
ivere  some- 


times disputes  between  them ;  but  they  were  ad- 
justed by  the  prudence  and  wisdom  of  Governor 
Eaton ;  and  the  friendship  of  the  Dutch  served  to 
check  the  inroads  of  tlie  savages  on  the  more  south- 
ern settlements  of  the  English.  New  Haven  Colo- 
ny was  one  of  the  four  united  with  the  New  Eng- 
land Colonics  in  1642;  but  sometime  after  wa^ 
joined  with  Hartford,  Windsor,  and  other  settle- 
ments, in  one  Colony ;  and  the  whole  received  the 
name  of  Connecticut.  The  first  company  at  New 
Haven,  with  Messrs.  Eaton  and  Davenport,  consisted 
mostly  of  citizens  of  London,  who  were  merchants 
and  traders ,  but  they  generally  l)ccame  landholders 
and  farmers.  In  their  religious  and  ecclesiastical 
views  and  forms  of  worship  and  discipline,  they 
differed  very  little  from  the  inhabitants  of  Massa- 
chusetts. And  there  was  always  a  friendly  inter- 
course between  them.  , 

ECKLEY,  Rev.  JOSEPH  D.  D.  received  his 
education  in  the  College  at  Princeton,  New  Jersey, 
and  was  ordained  over  the  Old  South  church  m 
Boston,  in  1779.  When  he  was  first  settled  he  had 
apprehensions  as  to  the  entire  orthodoxy  of  the 
clergy  in  Boston ;  but  his  acquaintance  with  them 
led  him  to  a  more  cordial  intercourse.  His  thcol  gi 
cal  views  differed  somewhat  from  theirs ;  but  t:y':y 
met  and  acted  together  as  brethren ;  and  in  the 
latter  part  of  his  life  there  was  less  difference  be- 
tween them.  It  is  not  uncommon  that  independent 
and  well-informed  men,  become  more  catholic  in 
their  opinions  as  they  advance  in  life ;  nor  that 
those  who  opposed  and  censured  each  other,  when 
strangers,  have  afterwards  had  more  charity.  Dr. 
Eckley  possessed  a  deep  sense  of  religious  ob- 
ligations, and  so  far  as  his  deportment  was  a  just  in- 
dication, his  piety  was  at  once  habitual  and  elevated. 
He  had  great  gravity  of  manners,  and  generally  ap- 


■■WlKlljllM 


160 


JOSEPH    ECKLEY. 


i. 


-!    k 


peared   less  cheerful  in  society  than  some  of  his 
brethren ;  but  he  possessed  kind  feeUngs  towards  all 
men,  and  his  serious  deportment  was  evidently  nat- 
ural or  constitutional,  and  not  assumed.     He  was  a 
faithful  minister  and  a  sympathising  friend.     Dr. 
Eckley  was  an  original  member  of  the  society  for 
propagating  the  gospel  among  the  Indians  and  others 
in  North  America,  iounded  in  1787.     He  delivered 
the  second  discourse  before  the  society.    Dr.  Lathrop 
delivered  the  first.     Dr.  Howard  was  first  requested, 
but  sickness  prevented.     The  discourse  of  Dr.  Elck- 
ley  was  published — and  in  it,  he  says,   "  it  is  a 
pleasing  observation,  that  the  most  important  truths 
in  religion  are  the  plainest. — The  great  work  in  the 
moral  or  spiritual  system  of  God,  is  the  redemj)tion 
of  man  through  the  Mediator,  who  stands  in  a  joint 
relation  to  him  who  sent  him,  and  to  those  to  whom 
he  was  sent."     He  was  many  years  one  of  the 
Boston  Association  of  ministers  of  Congregational 
Churches ;  and  then  they  all  formed  only  one  asso- 
ciation.   Dr.  Eckley  died  in  1811.    A  few  years  be- 
fore his  death,    Dr.   Worcester  published,    ''  Bible 
News,"  which  was  anti-Trinitarian.    In  a  letter  to 
his  brother,  from  Dr.  Eckley,  refering  to  the  vol- 
ume, the  latter  says, — "the  common  plan  of  three 
self-existent  persons  forming  one  essence  or  infinite 
Being,  and  one  of  these  persons  being  united  to  a 
man,  leads  to,  and  ends  in  Socinianism.   The  ortho- 
doxy, so  called,  of  Waterland  is  a;^  repugnant  to 
my  reason  and  views  of  religion,  as  the  heterodoxy 
or  Lardner.    And  I  am  at  loss  to  see  that  any  solid 
satisfaction  for  a  person  who  wishes  to  find  salvation 
through  the  death  of  the  Son  of  God,  can  be  found 
in  either."    It  appears  by  this  extract,  that  Dr. 
Eckley  was  neither  a  Socinian,  nor  a  Trinitarian. 
He  was  an  Arian,  or  Semi-arian ;  like  Dr.  S.  Clarke, 
snd  others,  who  do  not  profess  the  Socinian  creed. 
iThe  subject  is  difficult  to  explain ;  and  the  intelli- 


SAMUEL   BDDT. 


m 


gent  and  unprejudiced  will  not  qitarref  about  it. 
Dr.  Eckley  preached  a(  the  ordination  of  Rev.  Dr. 
Gray,  Roxbury,  aarjl  at  the  installation  of  Rev.  H. 
Holley,  Boston.  And  he  delivered  the  Dudleian 
lecture  in  18U6,  which  was  published. 

EDDY,  Hon.  SAMUEL  L  L.  D.  of  Providence, 
received  his  education  in  Brown  University,  with  the 
class  of  1787.  He  chose  the  profession  of  law,  and 
was  in  the  practice  several  years,  when  he  was  ap- 
pointed one  of  the  judges  of  the  Supreme  Court,  in 
the  State  of  Rhode  Island  ;  and  afterwards  held  the 
place  of  chief  justice.  He  continued  in  this  respon- 
sible station  until  near  the  time  of  his  death  in  1839. 
Judge  Eddy  had  the-  reputation  of  an  able  lawyer, 
and  an  impartial  dispenser  of  justice.  He  was  some 
time  also  member  of  Congress  from  Rhode  Island, 
and  faithfully  supported  the  interests  of  his  native 
State,  and  of  the  nation.  Mr.  Eddy  was  a  man  of  let- 
ters, and  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  cause  of  education. 
His  Alma  Mater  always  had  his  regard,  and  he  la- 
bored much  to  promote  its  prosperity  and  usefulness. 
The  corporation  chose  him  one  of  their  body ;  and 
conferred  on  him  the  degree  of  L  L.  D.  Mr.  Eddy 
had  a  taste  for  antiquarian  researches ;  and  he  had  a 
thorough  knowledge  of  the  history  of  America.  He 
was  a  corresponding  member  of  the  Massachusetts 
Historical  Society  :  and  a  member  of  the  Historical 
Society  of  Rhode  Island.  He  gave  a  large  portion  of 
his  time,  also,  to  the  study  of  theology.  He  was  a 
firm  believer  in  the  divine  origin  of  Christianity. 
His  views  coincided  with  the  moderu  Unitarians. 
He  studied  the  Bible,  particularly  the  New  Testa- 
ment, with  care;  and  deemed  that  the  only  standard 
and  rule  of  religious  faith.  To  human  creeds  he 
gave  no  credence  or  deference,  any  further  than  they 
dearly  agreed  with  and  were  supported  by  the  io-* 

14* 


162 


JONATHAN   EOWABDS. 


spired  writings.     But  he  was  candid  and  charitable 
towards  those  who  differed  from  him. 

EDWARDS,  Rev.  JONATHAN  was  several  yrears 
the  pastor  and  teacher  of  the  church  in  Northamp- 
ton, Massachusetts.  He  was  a  son  of  Rer.  Timothy 
Edwards,  minister  of  East  Windsor,  in  Connecticut; 
and  received  his  public  education  in  Yale  College,  in 
1720,  when  he  had  just  reached  the  age  of  seven- 
teen. His  thirst  for  knowledge  was  early  mani- 
fested. He  admired  the  essays  of  Locke,  on  the 
mental  powers ;  and  read  them  with  eagerness, 
when  few  of  his  age  understood,  or  could  endure 
them.  It  was  the  study  of  Locke  thus  early  in 
life,  probably,  which  gave  him  a  taste  for  meta- 
physical subjects,  and  induced  him  to  attend  so 
closely  to  that  course  of  reading.  If  his  philosophy 
of  mind  was  erected  on  the  maxims  and  opinions 
of  Locke,  it  differed  as  widely  from  that  eminent 
writer,  as  appears  from  some  of  his  other  works,  as 
did  the  system  of  the  skeptical  philosophers  in  France, 
whose  material  theory  was  pretended  to  be  founded 
on  the  doctrines  of  the  great  English  metaphysician. 
Mr.  Locke  asserted  that  the  senses  were  to  be  con- 
sidered as  the  cause  or  source  of  our  knowedge  and 
ideas ;  and  to  some  extent  this  is  true.  But  he  also 
taught,  that  by  mental  reflection,  we  acquire  some 
ideas,  which  the  outward  senses  do  not  furnish. 
The  skeptical  plulosophers  in  France,  of  a  subsequent 
age,  advocated  the  material  system,  which  excluded 
all  mind  or  spirit  from  man ;  and  concluded  that  there 
was  nothing  but  matter  in  the  universe.  But  Locke 
had  said  that  our  ideas  were  derived  from  reflec- 
tion as  well.as  from  sensation.  And  it  was  therefore 
a  perversion  of  his  theory  to  conclude  from  it,  that  it 
favored  the  skeptical  views  here  stated,  and  rendered 
mind  unnecessary  to  account  for  the  existence  of 


JONATHAN   EDWARDS. 


163 


lit&ble 


i\  year* 

thamp- 

imothy 

icticut ; 

lege,  in 
seven- 

r  mani- 
on  the 

gerness, 

I  endure 

early  ia 

r  meta- 

itend  so 

ilosophy 

opinions 
eminent 

rorks,  as 

I  France, 
founded 

lysician. 

I  be  con- 

idge  and 
t  he  also 

lire  some 
furnish, 
^sequent 
excluded 
hat  there 
ut  Locke 
m  reflec- 
therefore 
it,  that  it 
rendered 
stence  of 


what  we  see  and  witness  in  the  natural  world.  So 
the  metaphysical  theologian,  who  thinks  he  finds 
support  for  the  doctrine  ofmoral  necessity  in  the  the- 
ory of  Mr.  Locke,  presses  the  views  and  arguments* 
of  that  powerful  writer,  in  aid  of  his  own  senti- 
ments, too  far ;  and  errs,  in  charging  him  with  re- 
ferring all  the  operations  and  acts  of  mind  to  the  in- 
fluence  of  matter  by  the  senses,  and  thus  represent- 
ing mind  as  always  acted  on,  and  that  necessarily, 
by  outward  causes.  The  great  work  of  Mr.  Ed- 
wards on  the  tinllj  on  the  original  and  independent 
powers  of  the  human  mind,  is  of  this  kind.  His 
theory  is  that  man  has  {"jch  a  nature,  or  is  so  made, 
that  he  is  necessitated  to  sin ;  having  no  power  to  re- 
sist his  sinful  propensities :  and  that  it  must  be  an  irre- 
sistible power  operating  on  him  by  some  extraneous 
cause,  to  induce  him  to  cease  from  evil  acts,  and  to  do 
good.  This  theory,  not  entirely  new,  for  some  ancient 
pagan  philosophers,  and  some  modern  skeptical 
writers  have  advocated  it,  was  by  Mr.  Edwards,  ren- 
dered plausible ;  and  has  been  sometimes  said  to  be 
supported  by  him  by  so  close  reasoning  and  argument, 
as  not  to  be  resisted  :  and  yet  the  reason  and  common 
sense  of  mankind  revolt  against  it.  To  assert  that 
men  decide,  or  will  and  act  agreeable  to  the  strongest 
motive ;  or  to  the  highest  reason,  after  comparing 
the  nature  and  end  of  opposite  courses  of  conduct ; 
or,  in  other  words,  that  the  mind  does  not  act,  or 
that  we  do  not  will  or  determine  without  a  motive — 
this  is  one  thing — but  it  is  quite  another  and  differ- 
ent thing  to  say,  that  the  mind  is  entirely  passive  ; 
or  is  acted  upon  ;  or  acts  necessarily  according  to 
the  best  or  highest  motive,  from  which  one  should 
act ;  and  that  therefore  the  operations  of  the  mind, 
the  exerciser  of  the  will,  are  effects.  The  very  con- 
ception of  the  mind  is,  that  it  wills  or  acts ;  that  it 
determines  which  way  to  act,  when  two  objects,  or 
cQurses  of  conduct  are  presented ;  one  right  and  the 


tis4 


JONATR/N  EDWARDS. 


Other  wrong,  one  good  an  !  the  other  evil,  in  view  of 
conscience,  or  on  an  ■  pf  <  chension  of  each ;  that  it 
acts  for  or  against,  from  its  own  inherent,  indepen- 
dent power :  that  the  spiritnal  part,  the  real  man, 
the  intelligent,  moral  heing,  acts  or  determines;  and 
is  not  irresistibly  acted  on,  by  something  extraneous 
to  itself;  which  would  render  the  operations  or  exer- 
cises of  the  mind  etfects,  in  the  same  sense  in  which 
events  in  the  physical  and  material  world  are  effects 
necessarily  occurring,  or  produced  by  adequate 
causes.  The  great  error  of  this  theory  is  its  hostility 
to  the  mental  or  spiritnal  power  of  man.  It  makes 
the  mind  a  mere  machine,  though  a  very  delicate 
machine  ;  and  allows  not  its  power  to  act,  to  will,  to 
determine,  by  its  own  strength — given  indeed  by 
God,  as  a  high  and  precious  privilege. — It  makes 
man  the  creature  of  passion,  of  outward  circum- 
stances and  accidents,  and  as  necessarily  willing  and 
acting  according  to  impressions  and  influences  frcm 
maierial  and  extraneous  causes,  of  which  he  has  no 
control;  without  ability  of  mind  to  compare,  to  ex- 
amine, to  weigh,  and  to  learn  which  is  the  right  or 
the  best  to  choose.  And  how  does  this  differ  essen- 
tially from  the  theory  of  the  materialist?  It  makes 
man  the*  creature  of  matter ;  or  as  one  necessarily 
governed  by  matter  through  the  senses:  and  thus 
denies  that  the  mind,  the  spirit  of  man,  is  an  agenf. 
It  seems  therefore  to  afford  an  argument  to  tlie  skep- 
tic, who  denies  that  there  is  either  virtue  or  vice, 
merit  of  demerit  in  man  ;  and  justifies  him  in  saying, 
not  that  any  one  is  virtuous  or  vicious,- as  usually 
meant  and  understood,  but  as  fortunate  or  unfortunate. 
But  despite  the  theory  of  Mr.  Edwards,  he  was  most 
correct  and  exemplary  in  all  his  conduct.  He  was 
a  sincere  believer  in  the  Gospel,  and  made  it  the  rule  of 
his  life,  as  well  as  the  foundation  of  his  hopes.  Yet 
he  had  his  trials.  After  some  years,  he  met  with  op- 
position from  a  portion  of  his  society.     He  left  North- 


JONATHAN   EDWARDS, 


165 


ewof 

hat  it 

lepen- 

,  man, 

i;  and 

tneous 

f  exer- 

whicb 

effects 

equate 

oslility 

makes 

ielicate 

will,  to 

lecd  by 
makes 

circum- 

ing  and 

;es  frcnx 
has  no 

(,  to  ex- 
right  or 
r  essen- 

t  makes 

;essarily 
nd  thus 
n  agent, 
le  skcp- 
or  vice, 
saying, 
usually 
nrtunate. 
AT  as  most 
He  was 
le  rule  of 
es.    Yet 
with  op- 
fi  North- 


ampton, and  removed  to  the  county  of  Berkshire, 
where  he  was  missionary  to  the  Stockbridgc  tribe  of 
Indians.  And  in  1758,  was  elected  president  of  the 
college  at  Princeton,  in  New  Jersey.  He  held  the 
office  but  a  few  months,  when  he  died  of  the  small- 
pox, which  then  prevailed  in  that  part  of  the  country. 
Mr  Edwards  published  several  occasional  sermons  : 
but  his  great  work  was  an  essay  on  the  freedom  of 
the  will.  It  bears  the  impress  of  a  powerful  mind. 
And  great  talents  must  be  conceded  to  the  writer, 
whether  the  theory  be  correct  or  not. 

EDWARDS,   Rev.   JONATHAN  D.  D.   son  of 

President  Edwards,  received  his  public  education  in 
the  college  at  Princeton,  State  of  New  Jersey,  where 
he  proceeded  A.  B.  in  the  year  1765,  at  the  age  of 
twenty.     He  had  much  of  the  discernment  and  acu- 
men of  his  distinguished  parent ;  and  from  his  early 
years  was  imbued  with  the  like  serious  spirit  of  pi- 
ety.   As  a  student,  he  had  the  reputation  of  diligence 
and  thoroughness,  which  are  necessary  in  all  for  the 
attainment  of  any  great  measure  of  learning.     He 
early  understood  the  Indian  language,  spoken  bv  the 
tribe  of  Stockbridge,  where  he  resided  with  his  father 
four  or  five  years  before  he  entered  the  college.     He 
continued  his  attention  to  the  language  afterwards,  oc- 
casionally, and  wrote  on  the  peculiar  structure  and  id- 
ioms of  the  language ;  of  which  great  use  has  recently 
been  made  by  others,  who  have  sought  to  understand 
it,     Mr.  Edwards  resided  sometime  at  Princeton, 
commencing  two  years  from  the  tims  he  was  gradu- 
ated, as  z  tut«r ;  and  two  years  later.  1769,  received 
ordination  over  a  church  and  society  in  New  Haven, 
where  he  continued  for  twenty-five  years.    His  sep- 
aration from  this  church  was  attributed  to  the  ina- 
bility of  the  people  to  give  him  and  a  large  family  a 
support,  and  to  a  difiisreuce  of  religious  sentiments 
between  him  and  some  of  the  principal  members  of 


166 


NATHANIEL   EBLLU. 


his  society.  Soon  after  this  separation,  he  was  m- 
y  Stalled  over  a  small  church  in  the  County  of  Litch^ 
field,  in  the  State  of  Connecticut.  He  died  in  1801^ 
at  the  age  of  fifty-six.  Dr.  Edwards  had  the  repu- 
taction  of  an  able  disputant,  and  as  powerful  in  argu- 
ment, when  engaged  in  controvarsy,  in  writing,  or 
conversation.  He  was  very  'enaciou»  of  his  own 
opinions  ;  and  contended  for  some  doctrines  as  essen- 
tial to  the  Christian  character;  which  offier  pious 
and  exemfjlarv  men  denied,  or  of  the  iruth  of  which 
they  doubled.  lie  was,  tlierefore,  considered  as  too 
exchisive  in  ]m  views,  which  led  him  to  reject  the 
claims  of  sonif.  lo  the  Christian  name,  who  received 
the  essential  doctrines  of  Revelation.  It  is  to  be  la- 
mented, that  some  of  the  best  men  in  New  England 
have  been  of  such  exclusive  views  ;  and  it  is  matter 
of  rf joicing,  at  the  same  time,  that  there  have  l>een 
many  of  more  liberal  sentiments  ;  though  differing 
somewhat  on  speculative  points  in  theology.  The 
publications  of  Dr.  Edwards  were  sermons  on  the 
death  of  distinguished  public  men,  and  on  other  oc- 
casions ;  a  dissertation  on  "  the  liberty  of  the  will," 
and  a  reply  to  Dr.  Chauncy,  on  his  essays  in  favor 
of  the  final  happiness  of  all  men.  He  left  several 
sons,  who  are  distinguished  among  the  theologians 
and  scholars  of  the  present  generation.  uo 

EELLES,  Rev.  NATHANIEL  received  his  public 
education  in  Harvard  College  with  the  class  of  1699, 
and  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  South  church  and 
society  in  Scituate,  Massachusetts,  in  1704.  He 
continued  in  the  ministry  in  that  place  till  his  death, 
in  1750,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two.  His  character 
was  that  of  a  learned  theologian  and  a  faithful,  pru- 
dent and  affectionate  pastor.  His  prominent  trait  of 
cl^aractcr  was  prudence.  He  possessed  good  judg- 
ment, and  a  spirit  of  moderation,  for  which  he  was 
often  chosen  to, attend  councils,  and  settle  disputes 


I 


ANDREW   ELtOT. 


167 


as  in- 

1  1801, 
t  repu- 
n  argu- 
ting.  oT 
iis  own 
s  essen- 
er  pious 
f  which 
d  as  too 
eject  the 
received 
to  be  la- 
Eii  gland 
is  matter     ■ 
ave  been 
differing 
gy.    The 
IS  on  the 
other  oc- 
the  will," 
s  in  favor 
;t  several 
leologians 

his  public 
ss  of  1699, 
uirch  and 
1704.     He 
his  death, 
character 
ithful,  pru- 
ent  trait  of 
rood  judg- 
;h  he  was 
ie  disputes 


Thich  arose  in  the  churches  in  his  vicinity.  In  his 
iiheological  views,  Mr.  Eelles  might  justly  be  classed 
with  the  more  moderate  or  liberal  clergy  of  his  time. 
He  did  not  favor  Whitfield  in  his  eccentric  conduct; 
for  he  was  no  enthusiast.  He  acted  as  moderator 
of  the  Convention  of  clergy  in  Massachusetts  in  1743, 
when  the  conduct  of  Mr.  Whitfield  was  under  review, 
and  some  censures  were  passed  on  him,  for  his  censo- 
rious spirit  and  his  interference  with  regular  church- 
es, without  the  consent  of  their  ministers. 

ELIOT,  Rev.  ANDREW  D.  D.  was  graduated 
in  Harvard  College  in  1737,  and  ordained  in  1743, 
over  the  North  church  and  society  in  Boston,  his 
native  town.  He  soon  became  distinguished  as  a 
theologian,  an  elegant  writer,  a  pulpit  orator,  and  a 
good  general  scholar.  He  approved  of  the  govern- 
ment and  order  and  forms  of  the  Congregational 
churches  in  New  England;  and  on  proper  occa- 
sions, contended  for  their  general  agreement  with 
the  forms  and  discipline  of  the  churches  of  the 
primitive  days  of  Christianity,  both  with  his  tongue 
and  pen.  He  wrote  some  able  essays  in  defence  of 
the  Congregational  government  and  forms,  in  reply 
to  remarks  of  Episcopalian  clergymen  against  them; 
but  he  always  disputed  in  an  excellent  spirit,  and 
with  sound  arguments.  In  his  time  a  plan  was 
proposed  in  England,  and  urged  indeed,  by  some 
in  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut,  to  maintain 
bishops  in  this  country,  and,  in  commending  the 
plan,  great  misstatements  were  made  by  those  who 
favored  it,  of  the  ignorance  and  irreligion  of  the 
people  in  the  province.  Dr.  May  hew  replied  to 
some  of  these  statements  in  1763.  After  his  death, 
in  1766,  there  was  still  reason  to  notice  them,  as 
they  continued  to  be  made  and  repeated ;  and  Dr. 
Eliot  took  up  his  pen  in  vindication  of  the  churches 
and  people  of  the  Congregational  order  in  New  Eng- 


■iliiilWIllWl  ■ 


,\ 


168 


JOHN   BLIOT. 


I 


land ;  and  ably  pointed  out  the  mistakes  which  some 
Episcopalians  bad  made,  in  speaking  of  the  state  of 
religion  in  Massachusetts  and  the  adjoining  provinces. 
Dr.  Eliot  published  several  occasional  discourses, 
which  were  considered  among  the  best  of  his  time. 
His  style  of  writing  was  correct,  and  sometimes  high- 
ly  polished ;  but  he  evidently  aimed  to  be  intelligi- 
ble to  the  common  class  of  readers,  as  well  as  to  suit 
men  of  taste  and  learning.     His  compositions  united 

Eurity,  plainness  and  energy — as  a  pastor,  none  per- 
aps  exceeded  him  in  his  attentions,  kindness  to  his 
people,{and  his  sympathy  with  them  in  all  their 
wants,  temporal  and  spiritual.  He  belonged  to  the 
board  of  corporation  of  Harvard  College  for  sereral 
years  :  the  degree  of  D.  D.  was  conferred  on  him  by 
the  University  of  Edinburgh,  in  Scotland. 

ELIOT,  Rbv.  JOHN  came  to  Massachusetts  in 
1631,  at  the  age  of  27,  the  year  after  Charlestown 
and  Boston  were  settled  by  the  large  company  with 
Governor  Winthrop.  He  received  his  education  in 
the  University  at  Cambridge,  in  England ;  and  was 
sometime  a  teacher  of  youth.  He  became  acquainted 
with  some  puritan  preachers  soon  after  he  It  it  the 
university ;  he  approved  of  their  views  and  preach- 
ing, and  attached  himself  to  their  cause.  He  was 
invited  to  preach  in  Boston,  and  did  officiate  there 
sometimes  in  the  absence  of  Rev.  Mr.  Wilson  their 
pastor,  in  1631 ;  but  declining  to  continue  there,  set- 
tled in  Roxbury  in  1633,  over  the  church  and  society 
formed  by  some  of  the  leading  characters  who  came 
over  in  1630.  Mr.  Eliot  possessed  a  good  spirit  of 
piety  and  zeal,  united  with  inuch  discretion  and 
prudence ;  so  that,  while  he  was  wholly  devoted 
to  the  cause  of  his  Divine  Master,  he  could  not  be 
justly  considered  an  enthusiast,  much  less  a  fanatic, 
as  were  several  within  the  first  seven  years  from  the 
origin  of  the  colony.    One  design  of  tlie  puritans  who 


JOHN    ELIOT. 


169 


rhich  some 
tie  state  of 
I  piovinces. 
discourses, 
f  his  time, 
itimcs  high- 
be  iDtelligi- 
jU  as  to  suit 
ions  united 
►T,  none  per- 
idness  to  his 
in  all  their 
ionged  to  the 
efor  acTeral 
sd  on  him  by 
i. 

aachusetts  in 
Gharlestown 

5ompany  with 
s  education  in 

ind ;  awd  '*'*' 
aie  acquainted 

ter  heltit  the 
s  and  preach- 
tuae.    He  was 
officiate  there 
.  Wilson  their 
inue  there,  set- 
^ch  and  society 
Iters  who  came 
good  spirit  ot 
discretion  and 
-holly  deTOtcd 
3  could  not  be 
less  a  fanatic, 
years  from  the 
le  puritans  who 


made  the  settlements  in  New  England  was,  tn  com- 
municate the  knowledge  of  Christianity  among  the 
pagan  inhabitants  of  the  country.     Mr.  Eliot  soon 
gave  his  thoughts  to  this  object ;  and  he  began  to 
preach  the  gospel  to  them  in  1646.     Mr.  Mayhew,  of 
Martha's  Vineyard,  had  enpaged  in  this  good  work 
two  years  before.     Tiie  etiorts  of  both  these  good 
men  were  crowned  with  much  success  for  several 
years.     At  no  period  since,  have  the  attempts  to  con- 
vert the  American  Indians  to  the  faith  of  the  gospel 
been  so  prosperous.     And  in  the  latter  days  of  these 
venerable  teachers,  they  complained  that  they  made 
few  converts,  and  that  some  who  professed  faith  in 
Christ  did  not  live  according  to  his  holy  precepts. — 
Mr.  Eliot  however  continued  diligent  and  persevering 
in  his  efforts  for  the  conversion  and  civilization  of 
these  rude  ignorant  people ;  and  their  faithful  monitor 
and  friend  till  his  death  in  1690,  at  tho  age  of  eighty- 
six.     He  often  visited  different  parts  of  Massachu- 
setts, whenever  the  Indians  could  be  induced  to  at- 
tend his  preaching ;  and  in  any  disputes  between  them 
and  the  English  settlers  in  their  vicinity,  he  peoved 
a  friend  to  them,  and  a  peace-maker.     Such  were 
his  efforts,  and  journies  made  solely  for  their  good, 
especially  to  bring  them  to  the  knowledge  and  belief 
of  the  gospel,  that  he  has  been  called  the  ''  Apostle 
Eliot."     By  his  indefatigable  labors,  the  Bible  was 
translated  into  the  Indian  language,  solely  for  the  in- 
struction and  benefit  of  the  tribes  ;  but  few  of  them 
gave  to  it  such  attention  as  to  be  much  improved.  A 
religious  society  in  England,  with  Sir  Robert  Boyle 
at  its  head,  rendered  great  assistance  to  Mr.  Eliot  in 
his  labors  for  the  improvement  of  the  Indians.    In- 
deed he  could  not  have  spent  so  much  time  with 
I   them  and  for  them,  nor  published  the  translation  of 
the  Bible  into  their  language,  had  he  not  received 
pecuniary  aid  from  others.     That  society  contributed 
laiigely  to  the  support  of  Mr.  Eliot,  of  Mayhew, 
15 


I  t 


I   ( 

If 


170 


JOHIf   ELIOT. 


'f 

!> 


'■    la. 


Bourne,  Cotton,  and  others,  for  several  years  between 
1660  and  1690.  Mr.  Eliot  sometimes  took  part  in 
political  affairs,  as  did  most  of  the  clergy  of  that  pe- 
riod ;  not  so  much  probably  from  a  desire  to  dictate 
or  to  interfere  with  the  business  of  civil  government,  as 
from  a  wish,  on  the  part  of  the  magistrates  to  have 
their  opinions  and  advice  in  difficult  cases.  It  does 
not  appear  that  he  was  unstable  in  his  opinions  ;  and 
yet  he  was  accused,  at  one  time,  of  leaning  too  much 
to  the  democracy,  and  at  another  time  to  the  aristoc- 
racy of  the  infant  Colony.  He  had  four  sons ;  three 
of  whom  were  preachers  of  the  Gos|)el  ;  one  was 
settled  in  Newton  ;  and  one  was  ordained  as  an  as- 
sistant to  his  father  :  the  third  was  a  minister  at 
Guilford,  in  Connecticut. 

ELIOT,  Rev.  JOHN  D.  D.  had  his  education  in 
Harvard  College,  and  received  his  first  degree  in  1772. 
While  a  member  of  the  college  he  was  much  es- 
teemed for  his  amiable  disposition  and  correct  de- 
portment, as  well  as  for  diligent  application  to  his 
studies,  and  for  his  literary  attainments.  He  ranked 
among  the  first  in  his  class,  which  contained  forty- 
eight  members,  and  several  of  whom  had  the  reputa- 
tion of  being  uncommonly  good  scholars.  He  kept 
a  school  one  or  two  years,  on  leaving  the  University, 
and  at  the  same  time  read  much  on  theological 
subjects  ;  having  early  proposed  to  devote  himself 
to  the  Christian  ministry.  With  the  direction  and 
advice  of  such  a  learned  and  pious  man  as  the  father, 
and  by  the  free  use  of  his  library,  the  son  possessed 
advantages  for  gaining  theological  knowledge, 
which  are  enjoyed  by  very  few  students  in  divinity. 
Dr.  Eliot  received  ordination  in  1777-8,  as  succes- 
sor of  his  worthy  father,  over  a  church  and  society 
in  the  north  part  of  Boston  ;  and  there  assiduously  la- 
bored as  their  pastor,  and  they  repaid  his  faithful 
services  with  great  esteem  and  affection.    He  died 


!^- 


JOHN   BLIOT. 


171 


BETS  between 
1  took  part  in 
ry  of  that  pe- 
liVe  to  dictate 
overnment,  as 
rates  to  have 
ases.     It  does 
opinions ;  and 
ling  too  much 
to  ihe  aristoc- 
ursons;  three 
j^iel ;  one  was 
tined  as  an  as- 
a  minister  at 

,is  education  m 
tdegreeinl774. 
was  much  cs- 
and  correct  de- 
>pUcation  to  his 
,\s.     He  ranked 
contained  forty- 
had  the  reputa- 
loiars.    He  kept 
T  the  University, 
^  on  theological 
p  devote  himselt 
he  direction  and 
nan  as  the  father, 
he  son  possessed 
rical    knowledge, 
'dents  in  divinity. 
777-8,  as  sncces- 
lUTch  and  society 
,Te  assiduously  la- 
Ipaid  his  faithful 
fection.    He  died 


in  1813,  at  the  age  of  fifty-eight  years.  Dr.  Eliot 
shared  largely  in  the  regards  of  all  his  contempora- 
ries who  were  honored  with  his  personal  acquauit- 
ance,  or  knew  his  excellent  character.  He  had  pe- 
culiar blandness  and  amenity  of  manners;  and  all 
who  were  capable  of  appreciating  kind  dispositions 
and  amiable  feelings  in  others,  were  attached  to  him, 
as  to  one  who  possessed  such  feelings  and  dispo- 
sitions in  an  eminent  degree.  He  was  an  active  and 
efficient  friend  to  Harvard  College,  and  for  some  time 
a  member  of  the  board  of  overseers,  and  also  of  the 
corporation.  He,  with  Rev.  Dr.  Belknap  and  five 
others,  were  the  founders  of  the  Massachusetts  Histor- 
ical Society  ;  and  he  contributed  largely  to  its  pros- 
perity. He  was  also  an  early  member  of  the  Society 
for  propagating  the  Gospel  among  the  Indians  and 
others  in  North  America  ;  and  in  acting  with  those 
of  somewhat  different  theological  opinions,  he  always 
manifested  a  spirit  of  conciliation,  candor,  and  im- 

Eartiality.  The  works  he  published  bear  witness  to 
is  good  taste,  his  learning,  his  benevolence,  and  his 
piety.  A  biographical  dictionary,  was  his  principal 
literary  work ;  and  it  was  executed  with  much  abil- 
ity, discrimination  and  fidelity.  He  also  began  an 
ecclesiastical  history  of  New  England  ;  and  several 
numbers  appeared  in  the  collection  of  the  Historical 
Society.  Had  he  lived  a  few  years  longer,  he  would 
probably  have  continued  that  important  work.  No 
man  was  better  qualified  to  give  a  correct  account  of 
the  proceedings  of  the  churches  in  Massachusetts, 
and  in  the  neighboring  States:  and  no  one  else,  it  is 
feared,  will  be  so  impartial  and  candid.  Dr.  Eliot 
was  invited  to  take  charge  of  an  Episcopal  Church 
at  Halifax,  Nova  Scotia,  in  1776.  But  he  declined ; 
as  he  had  a  decided  preference  for  the  forms  and 
discipline  of  the  Congregational  churches ;  and  his 
father  was  also  opposed  to  Episcopacy, 


r^ 


['■^•n 


172 


ABNER     ELLn— WILLIAM    ELLERT. 


■!) 


ELLIS,  ABNER  ^sq.  of  Dcdham,  was  one  of 
the  brave  and  active  spiriu  who  early  engaged  in 
the  cause  of  colonial  rights  with  patriotic  zeal.  He 
represented  that  town  in  the  first  Provincial  Con- 
gress, held  in  Massachustttts,  October  1774,  and 
again  in  February  1775,  and  May  1775.  Mr. 
Samuel  Dexter  was  tiie  other  member  from  that 
town.  In  these  several  assemblies,  he  took  a 
ebnspicuous  part ;  and  acted  on  several  important 
committees.  He  was  one  of  those  employed  in 
1775-76,  to  collect  clothing  and  other  supplies  for 
the  army.  He  continued  a  member  of  the  House  of 
Representatives  for  several  years  after  the  war  be- 
gan—1776,  1777,  and  1778.  Mr.  Ellis  might  not  be 
considered  precisly  one  of  tho  leading  men  in  these 
conventions  and  assemblies;  but  the  public  records 
bear  witness  to  his  activity.  He  never  declined  any 
service,  however  difficult  or  arduous,  which  was  re- 
quired for  the  defence  of  the  province  and  the  main- 
tenance of  civil  liberty.  Mr.  Ellis  was  one  of  the 
working  members  of  the  Congress  and  the  House  of 
Representatives.  He  was  always  at  his  post,  readv 
to  assist  in  cairying  into  etlect  all  measures  recom- 
mended for  the  welfare  of  the  country. 

ELLERY,  Hon.  WILLIAM  was  a  native  of 
Newport,  in  Rhode  Island.  His  ancester  settled  in 
that  place  near  the  close  of  the  seventeenth  century. 
He  was  a  man  of  education  and  influence,  and  some- 
time Lieutenant  Governor  of  Rhode  Island.  Wil- 
liam Ellery  received  his  public  education  in  Har- 
vard College,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1747.  He 
studied  law,  and  devoted  twenty  years  to  the  prac- 
tice ;  with  a  high  reputation  for  ability  and  integrity. 
He  early  took  a  decided  and  active  part  in  the  sup- 
port of  colonial  rights  and  privileges,  and  opposed 
the  arbitrary  measures  of  the  British  ministry.  There 
were  difficulties  in  Rhode  Island  in  1773,  on  account 


WILLIAM   BLLUT. 


178 


\rM  0110  <n 
engaf«dUi 

ic  zeal*    "• 
vincial  Con- 

1T74,  and 
1775.  Mt. 
r  from  that 

he    took   a 
ral  important 
employed  in 
'  supplies  for 
the  House  of 
r  the  war  be- 
j  might  not  be 
men  in  these 
public  records 
r  declined  any 
which  was  re- 
aud  the  main- 
as  one  of  the 
1  the  House  of 
lis  post,  ready 
easures  recom- 


a  native  of 
ester  settled  in 
teenth  century, 
snce,  and  some- 
Island.     Wil- 
ication  in  Har- 
d  in  1747.     He 
ITS  to  the  prac- 
y  and  integrity. 
)art  in  the  sup- 
_,  and  opposed 
ninistry.  There 
773,  on  account 


of  an  attack  by  the  people  on  a  British  ressel  em- 
ployed by  the  officers  of  the  customs,  and  charged 
with  making  unjust  seizures  on  suspicion.  Certain 
individuals  were  tried  on  a  charge  of  having  been 
engaged  in  riotous  conduct  on  that  occasion — and 
they  were  threatened  with  transportation  to  Eng- 
land, there  to  be  subject  to  another  trial,  on  pretence 
that  the  trial  here  was  not  impartial.  This  threat- 
ened act  created  great  alarm  and  excitement,  and 
roused  the  spirit  of  all  the  friends  of  liberty  in  Rhode 
Island  and  the  neighboring  colonies.  Mr.  Kllery 
was  conspicuous  at  this  period,  among  the  patriotic 
citizens  who  condemneu  such  a  measure  ;  apd  on 
other  occasions  about  this  time,  joined  with  others 
in  explaining  and  asserting  the  political  rights  of  the 
colonies.  Early  in  the  year  1776,  he  was  sent  to 
the  Continental  Congress  sitting  at  Philadelphia,  with 
Stephen  Hopkins ;  who  with  Mr.  Ward,  had  been 
a  delegate  in  the  year  1775.  Mr.  El lery  was  con- 
tinued a  member  of  that  Congress,  till  the  year  1785. 
He  was  one  of  the  subscribers  to  the  Declaration  of 
Independence,  July  4th,  1776.  And  the  journals  of 
Congress  bear  witness  to  his  attention  and  activity 
in  the  public  service,  during  his  continuance  in  that 
assembly.  He  acted  on  many  important  committees 
relating  to  the  finances  and  to  diplomacy.  He  suf-* 
fered  much  loss  of  property  when  the  British  troops 
were  on  Rhode  Island,  in  1777  md  1778  :  but  with 
that  patriotic  feeling,  with  which  many  others  en- 
dured privations  and  paid  heavy  taxes,  in  the  cause 
of  national  freedom.  President  Washington  made 
him  the  collector  of  the  revenue  at  Newport,  in  1791 
— and  he  long  held  that  office.  He  died  in  1820,  at 
the  age  of  ninety-two. 

In  1785,  Rufus  King,  from  Massachusetts,  offered 

the  following  resolution   in   Congress,    which   was 

seconded  by  Mr.    Ellery— "  There  shall  be  neither 

slavery,  nor  involuntary  servitude  in  any  of  the 

16  • 


'IF 


174 


OLirn  ILLtWOBH. 


i 


States,  oth«rwiM  than  as  punishmmt  of  crime— 
and  this  regulation  shall  be  an  articte  of  compaet,  and 
remain  a  fundamental  principle  of  the  constitution  be- 
tween the  thirteen  origmal  States  and  each  of  them." 

Mr.  Ellery  was  always  esteemed  and  honored,  as 
one  of  the  worthy  and  accomplished  men  of  his  day. 
And  his  memory  must  be  highly  cherished,  with 
others,  for  bravely  asserting  and  defending  the 
rights  bestowed  on  man  by  the  great  and  good 
Author  of  his  being. 

ELLSWORTH,  Hon.  OLIVER  L  L.  D.  was  ed- 
ucated in  Princeton  College,  and  received  his  first 
degree  in  1766.  When  the  political  dispute  between 
Great  Britain  and  the  American  colonies  began, 
which  issued  in  the  Revolution  of*  1775,  Mr.  Ells- 
worth was  a  young  man ;  but  he  engaged  with  de- 
cision and  zeal  on  the  side  of  civil  lil^rty,  as  con- 
tended for  by  the  colonies  at  that  period.  He  was 
then  a  practising  attorney  at  Hartford,  in  Connec- 
ticut, having  studied  law  soon  after  he  left  college. 
He  represented  the  people  of  Connecticut  in  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  in  1777;  and  continued  in  public 
life,  from  that  year,  the  greater  portion  of  his  time, 
till  his  death.  He  held  the  following  important  sta- 
tions, besides  that  already  named  :  A  member  of 
the  Supreme  Executive  Council  of  Connecticut ;  a 
Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  in  that  State  ;  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Continental  Convention  to  form  the  federal 
Constitution  of  1787  ;  a  Senator  in  Congress  ;  a  Jus- 
tice of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  ;  En- 
voy Extraordinary  to  France;  Chief  Justice  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,  which  ofiice  he 
soon  resigned,  on  account  of  feeble  health  ;  after- 
wards again  a  member  of  the  Supreme  Executive 
Council  of  Connecticut ;  and  Chief  Justice  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  of  tliat  State  :  the  latter  also  he  declined 
because  of  the  infirm  state  of  his  health.    Judge  Ells- 


J.  RMBaaoN^-ir.  bmehson. 


175 


of  crime— 
inpaet,snd 
ttitntion  be- 
of  them." 
honored,  as 
of  his  day. 
ished,  with 
ending  the 
and  good 

D.  was  ed- 
ed  his  first 
ute  between 
►nies  began, 
6,  Mr.  Ells- 
red  with  de- 
srty,  as  con- 
)d.    He  was 
in  Connec- 
j  left  college. 
t  in  the  Con- 
ed in  public 
of  his  time, 
aportant  sta- 
A.  member  of 
nnecticut;  a 
ate ;  a  mcm- 
n  the  federal 
jress  ;  a  Jus- 
States  ;  En- 
ustice  of  the 
jich  office  he 
ealth ;  aftcr- 
16  Executive 
ice  of  the  Su- 
10  he  declined 
Judge  Ells- 


worUi  possessed  talents  of  a  saperior  order ;  a  sonod, 
discriminating  judgment ;  and  great  firmness  and  de- 
cision of  character.  His  manners  were  dignified,  his 
principles  pure,  and  his  conduct  morally  correct.  As 
a  public  servant  he  was  always  found  faithful.  The 
republic  never  sufiiered  by  his  incompetency  or  inat- 
tention. Its  welfare  was  safe,  so  far  as  depended  on 
his  influence.  Few  men,  so  long  in  public  life  as 
Judge  Ellsworth,  has  had  such  an  unsullied  reputa- 
tion. He  left  several  sons,  who  are  not  unworthy  of 
their  descent,  nor  of  the  name  they  bear. 

EMERSON,  Rev.  JOSEPH  was  minister  of  the 
church  and  society  in  Maiden,  about  forty-six  years. 
He  received  his  public  education  in  Harvard  College, 
with  the  class  of  1717,  and  was  ordained  in  1721. 
He  manifested  a  spirit  of  uncommon  piety  in  his 
youth ;  and  through  life  his  deportment  was  that  of 
a  sincere  and  humble  Christian.  He  made  the  sacred 
volume  the  standard  of  his  religious  faith ;  and  dil- 
igently searched  its  pages,  that  he  might  know  the 
divine  will ;  as  well  for  the  religious  improvement 
of  his  people,  as  for  his  own.  He  was  a  faithful 
and  successful  minister ;  and  his  correct  example  had 
a  happy  influence  with  his  people.  His  benevolence 
and  kindness  were  acknowledged  by  all  who  knew 
him  ;  a  tenth  part  of  his  income  was  devoted  to  char- 
itable purposes.  Several  of  his  sons  and  grandsons 
were  also  in  the  ministry.  The  family  is  extensive 
and  respectable. 

EMERSON,  Rev.  WILLIAM  was  educated  in 
Harvard  College,  where  he  received  his  first  degree 
in  1789 ;  with  a  high  reputation  as  a  clasdical  schol- 
ar, a  close  student,  and  a  man  of  good  taste  in  com- 
position and  elocution.  He  attended  more  to  eicim- 
tion  and  oratory  than  most  others  of  his  class  or 
standing.     He  was  one  of  the  best  writers  and  most 


i 


176 


NATBANISL   BMMONS. 


accomplished  pulpit  orators  of  his  time.  He  spent 
one  or  two  years  in  a  high  school  in  Roxbury ;  and 
there  profited  by  the  conversation  and  advice  of  Rev. 
Dr.  Porter,  the  settled  minister  of  the  first  society  in 
that  town.  In  1792,  he  was  ordained  over  the  church 
in  Harvard ;  and  after  a  few  years,  was  called  to 
fill  the  pastoral  ofhce,  in  a  large  society  in  Boston, 
on  the  death  of  Dr.  John  Clarke.  His  opportunities 
for  doing  good  were  here  much  greater  than  in  his 
former  situation ;  and  his  usefulness  was  far  more 
extensive.  He  had  talents  to  exert  an  influence  and 
to  command  respect  in  that  populous  town.  Here 
he  was  much  esteemed  by  his  brethren  in  the  minis- 
try, and  the  people  in  general,  as  a  serious,  practical 
preacher.  In  the  churches  where  he  officiated,  the 
younger  portion  of  the  congregation  listened  to  him, 
when  they  were  too  indifferent  to  the  elder  clergy- 
men, whose  style  of  writing  had  become,  in  some 
measure,  obsolete.  His  addresses  on  public  occasions 
are  numerous,  and  rank  among  the  most  correct  and 
finished  compositions  of  his  time.  His  history  of  the 
first  church  in  Boston,  of  which  he  was  the  pastor, 
shows  his  taste  and  fondness  for  a  knowledge  of  the 
early  characters  and  events  in  Massachusetts,  partic- 
ularly in  the  ecclesiastical  department. 

EMMONS,  Rev.  NATHANIEL  D.  D.  received 
his  public  education  in  Yale  College,  and  was  grad- 
uated in  the  year  1767.  He  studied  divinity,  and 
was  ordained  over  the  Congregational  church  and 
society  in  Franklin,  Massachusetts.  His  ministry 
embraced  a  period  of  nearly  seventy  years  :  and  he 
died  in  1840,  at  the  very  advanced  age  of  ninety-six. 
He  was  esteemed  as  a  faithful  pastor,  and  an  able 
theologian.  He  professed  the  Calvinistic  system  : 
and  adopted  the  peculiar  views  of  Dr.  Edwards  ana 
Dr.  Hopkins,  respecting  the  natural  and  entire  de- 
pravity of  man;  his  moral  inability,  and  absolute  to- 


NATfUiUKL  EMMONS. 


l?T 


tal  oppo«ition  to  all  good ;  with  the  other  doctrines 
included  iu  the  theological  theory  of  these  eminent 
divines.  Dr.  Emmons  wrote  and  published  several 
discourses  on  these  subjects:  and  his  writings  were 
distinguished  by  energy  and  vigor :  and  had  great 
influence  with  many  students  of  divinity  younger 
than  himself,  in  leading  them  to  adopt  his  views. — 
The  Calvinistic  system  has  recently  been  opposed  by 
some  who  still  retain  the  name  of  orthodox  ;  and  in- 
stead of  contending  for  imputed  sin  and  guilt,  for  the 
one  act  of  disobedience  in  the  father  of  our  race, 
they  assert  that  every  child  of  Adam  has  a  nature  so 
corrupt  and  depraved,  that  he  will  and  does  necessa- 
rily sin  ;  and  thus  deserves  the  displeasure  of  God 
for  his  own  personal  disobedience.  The  distinction 
guards  against  the  strange  doctrine  of  making  men 
guilty  and  liable  to  eternal  punishment  for  the  sin  of 
another  ;  and  yet  it  supposes  that  every  one  possess- 
es a  nature  wholly  and  constaatly  disposed  to  evil, 
until  changed  by  a  power  or  influence  entirely  be- 
yond his  control.     The  intellectual   powers  of  Dr. 

^i.tiiiMiio  wrie  veiy  Miong;  ana  greatly  strengthenca 
by  inquiry  and  study.  His  voluminous  writings  not 
only  prove  uncommon  industry,  but  show  a  discrim- 
inating mind.  His  theological  views  mny  be  correct, 
or  erroneous;  and  yet  his  religious  princip! .  and 
feelings  were  not  so  directed  by  speculative  opinions 
as  to  be  wholly  governed  by  them.  Happy  is  it  to 
reflect,  that  this  or  lliat  theological  system,  in  its 
speculative  and  abstruse  parts,  is  not  essential  to 
sincere  piety  or  to  rcligiotis  aflcctions.  The  chris- 
tian religion  being  designed  for  the  poor  and  illiter- 
ate, as  well  as  the  learned,  for  the  great  body  of 
mankind,  who  have  not  time  to  study  nor  ability  to 
understand  the  abstruse  points  in  theology  ;  it  can- 
not be  supposed  that  entirely  just  and  correct  appre- 
hensions of  all  religious  doctrines  should  be  received 
and   professed.      Certainly  they  cunnot  be    under- 


\  . 


=il! 


178 


JOHN   EITDICOr. 


Stood;  and  the  admission  of  an  unintelligible  pwpo- 
sition  can  produce  no  gwod  effect  on  the  conduct  of 
the  heart.  The  works  of  Di.  Emmons  have  been 
published,  in  several  volumes,  since  his  death. 

ENDICOT,  Hon.  JOHN  was  the  principal 
character  in  the  company  of  one  hundred  persons, 
who  settled  at  J^'alem,  in  1628,  imder  authority  of 
the  company  in  England,  which  that  year  received 
a  patent  and  a  charter  for  Massachusetts  Bay.  It 
was  made  a  condition,  however,  that  they  should 
purchase,  or  have  the  consent  of  the  Indians.  The 
next  year,  about  three  hundred  were  added  to  them, 
witli  two  worthy  clergymen.  Rev.  Mr.  Higginson, 
and  Rev.  Mr.  Skelton.  In  1630,  came  (jJovenior 
Winthrop,  Sir  R.  Saltonstall,  Isaac  Johnson,  Thotn- 
as  Dudley,  &-c.,  bringing  with  them,  Rev.  Mi.  Wil- 
son and  Kev,  Mr.  Phillips :  the  whole  number  b^'ing 
fifteen  hundred,  who  settled  at  Charlestown,  Boston, 
Cambridge  and  Watertown, — besides  a  company  of 
upwards  of  one  hundred  who  made  their  settlement 
at  Uorchester :  lliey  aiuOwnti:;^'  \\]  ?J!  !:!*'««  places  iii 
1630,  to  twenty-one  hundred.  Mr.  Endicot  was  one 
of  the  original  patentees ;  the  others  who  came  to 
Massachusetts,  were  .Saltonstall.  John  Humphrey, 
Isaac  Johnson,  and  R,  Bellitigham  ;  most  of  the  com- 
pany to  which  the  patent  was  first  granted,  never 
came  to  America,  but  soon  sold  their  right  to  others 
who  were  more  enterprising. — Mr.  FJndicot  had  a 
good  degree  of  resoku.on,  decision,  and  firmness  of 
character,  which  qualified  him  to  found  a  Colony  in 
a  waste  wilderness  :  and  yet  if  he  had  manifested 
more  lenity  and  m>ldr»*3s  (m  some  occasions,  it 
would  not  probably  liar^  injured  the  stability  or 
prosperity  of  the  infant  Colony.  His  reput«t^n 
was,  deservedly,  no  doubt,  that  of  hortesty,  asd 
sincerity ;  but  he  had  narrow  views  on  religious 
subjects,  and  often  acted    tli^  unamiable  part  of  a 


1 
f 


JOHN     KNDICOT. 


179 


occavSions,    it 


bigot  and  a  persecutor.    In  the  early  days  of  New 
England,  the  civil  rulers   ware   religious  men  ;  and 
they  believed  it  their  duty  to  regulate,  and  in  some 
cases,   to  control   in  ecclesiastical    atTairs.      They 
claimed,  indeed,  only  a  right  to  advise,  and  to  pre- 
vent gross  errors  ;  but  they  often  interfered  improp- 
erly, with  the  plea  of  acting  "  as  nursing  fathers  of 
the  Churches."     Their  motives  were  good  ;  but  they 
erred  in  exercising  political  power  in  favor  of  one 
sect,  and  in  persecuting  all  others.      Mr.   Endicot 
was  one  year  chosen  Governor,  during  the   life  of 
Mr.   Winthrop,  in  1644 ;  and  was  also  elected  to  the 
same  office  the  year  after  the   death  of  that  distin- 
guished man,  for  1649 ;  again   for    1651 — and  also 
from  1653  to  1665,  the  year  of  his  decease. — When 
he  settled  at  Salem  in   1628,  he  had  not  personally 
known  Governor  Bradford,  nor  any  of  the  Plymouth 
Colony;  but  he  soon  formed   an  acquaintance  with 
him,  with  Dr.  Fuller  who  was  a  deacon  of  tlie  Ply- 
mouth Church,  and  with  Standish  the  military  chief 
of  the  plantation  there,  began  in  1620.     A  friendly 
intercourse  was  always  maintained   after  this  time, 
between  the  two  Colonies,  both  in  civil  and  religious 
concerns ;    and     was    also    cultivated     afterwards, 
tmder  Governor  Winthrop  and  his  successors,  till  by 
the  second  charter  for   Massachusetts,  in  1691,  Ply- 
mouth Colony  was  included  in  that  province.     Gov- 
ernor Endicot  often  commanded  the  military  of  the 
Colony,  with  the  title  of  Major-General.      The  first 
who  had   military  command   of  the  citizens,  was 
Deputy    Governor   Dudley.     Edward  Gibbons,  R. 
Sedgwick  and  Humphrey  Athertou,  were  also  Major 
Generals  in  the  early  days  of  the  Colony.     Govern- 
or Endicot  could   not  boast  of  so  good  an  education 
as    Winthrop,    I^llinghum,   Hradstreet,   or    Nowell. 
He  was  better  fitted  for  action,  than  for  council,  or 
for  writing;  and  yet  his  letters  are  written  in  a  cor- 
rect style,  and  he  had  a  good  knowledge  of  man- 
kind. 


180 


WILLIAM     EUSTIS. 


EUSTIS,  Hon.  WILLIAM  was  a  native  of 
Boston,  and  received  his  public  education  in  Har- 
vard College,  where  ho  was  graduated  in  1772.  He 
made  choice  of  the  medical  profession,  and  entered 
the  American  army  in  1775,  as  Surgeon's  mate;  but 
soon  after  became  chief  surgeon,  and  in  that  station 
remained  till  the  close  of  the  war.  For  several 
years  ho  attended  to  the  practice  of  pliysic  in  his 
native  town.  He  was  a  good  writer  and  a  popular 
speaker.  He  had  a  seat  in  the  General  Court  for 
four  or  five  years,  between  1788  and  1793;  and 
generally  took  part  in  the  debates,  wiih  much  tact 
and  fluency,  though  some  of  the  members  were 
more  able  and  profornd  in  argument.  He  was  after- 
wards a  member  of  Congress  two  years  from  Suffolk 
District.  Then  Secretary  of  War ;  Envoy  to  the 
Court  of  Holland;  and  Governor  of  the  State  of 
Massachusetts,  in  1824  and  1825.  He  died  while 
in  office,  in  1825,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three.  Gov- 
ernor Eustis  possessed  good  talents,  but  was  not  a 
very  hard  student.  As  a  physician  he  was  respect- 
able, and  as  a  patriot,  ardent  and  sincere. 


im\h 


:i 


CHAPTER  VI. 


F 


FARLEY,  MICHAEL  Esq.  was  a  citizen  of  Ips- 
vr'ich,  and  had  the  reputation  of  an  ardent  and  intel- 
ligent patriot  in  ^he  critical  period  of  1770-1776. 
For  several  successive  years  he  was  returned  a  rep- 
resentative from  his  native  town,  and  ranked  among 
the  leading  members  of  the  General  Cc  irt.  In  1774, 
when  chosen  as  one  of  the  Council,  Governor  Gage, 
then  recently  come  into  the  chair,  gave  his  negative 
to  the  election.  But  this  was  no  dishonor — for  the 
ilegative  of  the  Governor,  at  that  time,  extended  to 
Bowdoin,  Winthrop,  Austin,  J.  Adams,  W.  Phillips, 
Jas.  Prescott,  Jedediah  Foster,  Norton, (iuincy,  Timo. 
Danielson,  and  Enoch  Freeman.  Mr.  Farley  attend- 
ed the  convention  in  Essex,  September  1774,  as  a 
member  from  Ipswich  ;  and  was  also  elected  a  dele- 
gate to  the  Provincial  Congress  of  Massachusetts,  in 
October  1774,  February  and  May  1775 ;  and  after- 
wards a  member  of  the  House  of  Representatives, 
July  1775.  He  was  then  chosen  one  of  the  Supreme 
Executive  Council,  which  had  the  power.of  the  for- 
mer Governor  and  his  Council ;  but  which  was  now 
disowned.  Mr.  Farley  was  appointed  Sheriff  of  the 
county  of  Essex,  in  1780,  and  continued  in  that  of- 
fice until  near  the  close  of  his  useful  life.  He  was 
also  several  years  Major-General  of  militia  of  the 
second  division.  He  died  in  1769,  at  the  age  of 
geventy.    His  memory  is  justly  honored. 

16  ■     "^ 


f 


TT 


i.^ 


ii 


!  I^ 


t 


(     t^ 


' 


\\ 


182 


J.    FISHER. — J.     FI8KB. 


FISHER,  JABEZ  Esq.,  of  Wrentham,  repre- 
sented that  toiva  in  the  Suffolk  County  Convention, 
in  September  1774,  whicli  met  to  remonstrate 
against  the  threats  and  warlike  measures  of  Gov- 
ernor Oage,  as  well  as  against  the  arbitrary  and  op- 
pressive policy  of  the  British  ministry.  And  when 
a  Provincial  Congress  was  held  at  Concord,  in  Octo- 
ber 1774,  he  attended  as  a  delegate  from  Wrentham. 
He  and  Dr.  Lemuel  Kollock,  were  also  members  of 
the  second  Congress  in  Massachusetts,  in  February 
1775;  and  of  the  third,  in  May  1775.  When  a 
House  of  Representatives  was  called  in  July  1775, 
instead  of  a  Congress,  Mr.  Fisher  was  returned  as  a 
member,  and  soon  after  was  chosen  one  of  the  Su- 
preme Executive  Council  of  the  Province ;  the 
authority  of  Governor  Gage  and  the  mandamus 
Council  having  been  repudiated,  before  that  time. 
W^ith  other  patriots  of  the  Revolution,  who  contend- 
ed so  nobly,  and  at  great  hazard  and  cost,  for  civil 
liberty,  and  for  political  rights  always  enjoyed  by 
the  people  of  New  England,  his  memory  deserves  to 
be  revered  by  the  present  generation.  The  few 
learned  and  eloquent  men  of  thai  critical  period, 
gave  an  impulse  in  favor  of  the  glorious  cause,  and 
furnished  examples  from  history  to  animate  the 
people  to  struggle  for  their  rights  as  men  and  as 
members  of  society.  But  the  contest  had  been 
liopeless  without  the  resolute  support,  and  efficient 
and  united  aid  of  the  substantial  yeomanry  and 
mechanics  in  the  Province. 

FISKE,  Rev.  JOHN  came  to  Massachusetts  in 
the  year  1G27,  at  the  age  of  thirty-five  or  thirty-six; 
in  the  company  with  Rev.  John  Allin,  who  was 
sometime  pastor  of  the  Church  at  Dedham.  He 
was  esteemed  as  an  able  and  faithful  minister  of  the 
gospel  ;  and  his  Libors  were  abuudanmiy  successful 
Id  the  viusyard  of  his  Lord.      He  first  settled  at 


NATHAN    FISKK. 


183 


nitham,  rcpre- 
ity  Convention, 
10   remonstrate 
asures  of  Gov- 
t)itrary  and  op- 
y.     And   when 
ancord,  in  Octo- 
om  Wrentham. 
I  so  members  of 
tts,  in  February 
775.      When  a 
I  in    July  1775, 
as  relumed  as  a 
one  of  the  Su- 
Province  ;    the 
the  mandamus 
)efore  that  time. 
m,  who  contend- 
id  cost,  for  civil 
rays  enjoyed  by 
mory  deserves  to 
ilion.     The  few 
I  criHcal   period, 
)rious  cause,  and 
to   animate   the 
as  men  and  as 
ontest  had   been 
,ort,  and  efficient 
.1  yeomanry  and 

Massachusetts  in 
-five  or  thirty-six ; 
All  in,  who  was 
at  Dedham.  He 
ul  minister  of  the 
daai-iy  successful 
le  iirst  settled  at 


Wenhara,  in  the  County  of  Bssex  ;  and  after  twelve 
years  removed  to  Chelmsford,  then  a  new  settlei  \ent. 
He  continued  in  that  place  till  his  death  in  1677. 
One  of  his  sons  and  a  grandson  were  respectable 
clergymen  in  tl»e  Colony.  The  former  was  settled 
in  liraintrce,  and  the  latter  in  Salem.  Dr.  Mather 
called  his  wife  his  concordance  ;  for  she  was  so  con- 
versant with  the  sacred  volume,  that  she  could 
always  tell  him  whore  to  find  the  passage  or  text 
he  wanted.  Mr.  Fiske  was  also  a  practising  phy- 
sician. ;  which  was  not  a  very  uncommon  case  at 
that  period.  His  name  is  spelled  Frisk  in  some 
early  publications:  an  error  of  the  press  no  doubt. 

FISKE,  Rev.  NATHAN  D.  D.  received  his 
education  in  Harvard  College,  and  was  graduated 
in  1754.  He  was  ordained  over  a  Congregational 
Church  and  Society  in  Brookfield,  in  the  year  1758  ; 
and  continued  in  the  ministry  until  his  decease,  in 
1799,  in  the  sixty-seventh  year  of  his  age.  He  has 
been  ranked  among  the  most  popular  and  faithful 
ministers  of  his  time.  His  great  aim  and  effort  were 
to  promote  the  spiritual  welfare  of  his  people.  But 
he  was  always  ready  to  engage  in  plans  for  the  liter- 
ary and  moral  improvement  of  his  fellow  men,  in 
other  places  besides  his  own  parish.  He  was  no  in- 
novator, nor  had  an  unreasonable  veneration  for  an- 
cient opinions  and  customs.  His  preaching  was 
evangelical,  but  practical.  He  laid  little  stress  ou 
abstruse  points  in  theology,  "knowing  that  they 
gender  strife,"  but  asserted  and  urged  the  plain  doc- 
trines of  the  gospel,  which  are  "  according  to  godli- 
ness," and  tend  directly  and  powerfully  to  spiritual 
edification.  Though  he  had  a  small  salary,  he  gave 
^his  time  more  to  reading  and  study  than  some  of 

;^the  country  clergy.  And  he  therefore  excelled  most 
of  his  brethren  in  general  knowledge,  as  well  as  ia 

^that  of  theology  and  ecclesiastical  history.    Several 


184 


O.  FISKE^P.  FOBES — 1.  FORBES. 


i    I 


of  his  discourses  and  essays  on  moral  .subjectt  were 
published;  and  possess  no  small  degree  of  merit, 
when  compared  with  other  publications  oT  iifty  and 
sixty  years  ago.  By  his  literary,  moral  and  religious 
labors,  he  contributed  a  good  share,  as  an  individual, 
to  the  common  stock  of  information  in  the  com- 
munity. 

FISKE,  How.  OLIVIIR  M.  D.  a  son  of  Rev.  Dr. 

Nathan  Fiskc,  received  his  first  degree  in  Harvard 
College,  in  the  year  17H7.  He  chose  the  useful  pro- 
fession of  a  physician ;  and  was  many  years  a  high- 
ly respectable  member  of  the  faculty  in  Worcester. 
He  was  a  scientific  physician,  being  well  acquainted 
'Tvith  natural  philosophy,  chemistry,  and  physiol- 
ogy, so  far  as  contributed  to  a  correct  or  successful 
practice.  Dr.  Fiske  was  also  in  public  office  for  sev- 
oral  yenra,  after  he  arrived  at  the  meridian  of  life 
accojding  to  the  usual  age  of  man.  He  was  one  of 
the  Supreme  Executive  Council  of  the  Common- 
wealth in  1S09,  and  again  in  1812,  and  1813. 

FOBES,  Rev.  PEREZ  LL.  I),  was  a  native  of 
Brtdgewater,  Plymouth  County,  and  graduated  at 
Harvard  College  with  the  class  of  1762.  He  settled 
in  the  ministry  in  the  town  of  Raynham,  and  County 
of  Bristol;  where  he  continued  a  useful  and  faith- 
ful pastor  till  his  death,  in  1798,  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
seven.  He  had  a  taste  for  the  physical  sciences ; 
and  having  a  small  society,  he  had  leisure  to  turn 
his  attention  to  the  subject.  His  acquirements  were 
so  great,  that  he  was  chosen  to  deliver  lectures  on 
astronomy  and  natural  philosophy  in  Brown  Uni- 
versitV;  from  which  he  received  the  degree  of  L  L.  D. 
Ho  possessed  an  amiable  disposition ;  and  was 
greatly  esteemed  and  beloved  by  his  people. 

y  FORBES,  Rev.  ELI  D.  D.  received  a  degree  in 


■'i 


■        1 


D.  FOVTBE — I.  FOSTER. 


185 


Harvard  College,  in  1751  ;  ami  sellled  in  the  minis- 
try in  Brooklield  ,  but  alter  some  yoars  removed  to 
Gloucester,  where  he  rcnuiiiied  till  his  death,  in  IH()4, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-seven,     lie  ranktd  .    the 

most  popular  preachers  of  his  time.     His  Mr.s«?8 

were   well   written,  and  delivered  in   an   i  ue 

manner.      .Several   ol'  his  occasional  sen  --e 

published ,  and  a  vulunio  written  by  huii  lor  the 
use  of  families. 

FOSTER,  Hon.  DWKJHT  received  his  pu(!lic 
education  in  lirown  University,  with  the  class  of 
1774.  1  ie  chose  the  profession  of  law  ;  and  had  an  ex- 
tensive practice  in  lirookliold,  where  he  lived,  and  in 
other  parts  of  the  county  of  Worcester.  He  was 
elected  a  Representuiive  to  the  CJeneral  Court  from 
that  town,  at  an  curly  age;  and  afterwards  had  a 
seat  in  the  national  Lc^'islature  ;  being  first  a  mem- 
ber of  the  House,  and  then  of  the* Senate  of  the  Uni- 
ted States,  He  was  also  sometime  a  member  of  the 
Senate  of  Massachusetts  :  and  a  Justice  of  the  Court 
of  Common  Pleas  in  the  county  of  Worcester.  Judge 
Foster  held  other  otiices  of  public  trust ;  and  always 
received  the  good  opinion  of  his  fellow  citizens  -  for 
the  ability  and  faithfulness  with  which  he  conducted. 
He  died  at  an  age  short  of  the  term  often  allotted  to 
man. 

FOSTER,  Dr.  ISAAC  was  a  native  of  Charles- 
town,  and  had  his  public  education  in  Harvard  Col- 
lege, with  the  class  of  1758.  He  studied  medicine, 
and  settled  in  Charlestown,  where  he  was  several 
years  engaged  in  the  practice  of  "  the  healing  art :" 
But  he  previously  spent  some  time  in  England,  to 
study  his  profession  under  able  surgeons  and  physi- 
cians there.  Charlestown  could  boast  of  a  large 
number  of  whigs  and  patriots  in  the  memorable  peri« 
od  of  1775  ;  and  Dr.  Foster  was  among  the  most  in- 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


1.1 


I 


125 


Ittiu 

la  ^^  — 

itt  Ui   12.2 

£  U&   12.0 

u 


M 


25  II  1.4 


1.6 


Sdences 
Corporalion 


^\ 


r<\- 


V 


<^ 


^ 


v\ 


23  WIST  MAIN  STRUT 

WIBSTiR,N.Y.  MStO 

(716)  •72-4503 


■^ 


lie 


WAAO   F08TBS. 


telligent  ftnd  active.  He  was  a  delegate,  with  R. 
Devene,  D.  Cheever,  and  others,  to  the  convention  in 
the  county  of  Middlesex,  in  August  1774 ;  and  of  the 
first  Provincial  Ccm^ress  of  Massachusetts,  in  Octo- 
ber 1774.  The  object  of  these  meetings,  each  of 
which  was  composed  of  more  than  two  hundred 
members,  was  to  consult  on  measures,  proper  then 
for  adoption,  to  preserve  the  ancient  civil  liberties  of 
the  people.  The  prospect  was  such  as  to  interest 
and. alarm  the  people  generally;  and  some  were 
ready  almost  to  despond.  It  was  necessary  to  call 
on  the  more  intelligent,  and  those  of  good  judgment, 
and  of  experience  in  public  affairs,  to  act  for  the 
whole  province — to  devise  measures  of  defence,  when 
attacked  by  British  troops,  then  in  the  country  for 
the  purpose  of  enforcing  arbitrary  and  oppressive 
acts  of  Parliament ;  and  for  the  preservation  of  polit- 
ical rights,  consistent  with  a  proper  regard  to  con- 
stitutional law  and  social  order.  The  opinion  then 
was  to  act  on  the  defensive,  and  to  resort  to  arms 
only,  after  all  attempts  to  inaintain  peace  and  union 
with  England  should  fail.  The  Convention  shall 
speak  for  itself — among  other  things  it  resolved  : 
"  That,  as  true  and  loyal  subjects  of  our  gracious 
sovereign,  George  the  third,  king  of  Great  Britain, 
we  by  no  means  intend  to  withdraw  our  allegiance 
from  him ;  but  while  permitted  the  free  exercise  of  bur 
natural  and  charter  rights,  are  resolved  to  expend 
life  and  treasure  in  his  service. — That  when  our  an- 
cestors emigrated  from  Great  Britain,  charters  and 
solemn  stipulations  expressed  the  conditions,  and 
what  particular  rights  they  yielded ;  what  each  par- 
ty had  to  do  and  perform ;  and  which  each  of  the 
contracting  parties  were  equally  bound  by : — That 
we  know  of  no  instance  in  which  this  province  has 
transgressed  the  rules  on  their  part,  or  any  way  for- 
feited their  natural  and  charter  rights  to  any^wer 
CO  earth — ^That  the  Parliament  of   Great  Britain 


IRAAO   FOSTKB. 


187 


have  exercised  a  power  contrary  to  tho  charter,  by 
passiDg  acts  which  hold  up  their  absolute  suprema- 
cy  over  the  Colonies ;  by  an  act  blockading  up  the 
port  of  Boston ;  and  by  two  late  acts,  one  entitled  an 
act  for  better  regulating  the  government  of  the  prov- 
ince of  Massachusetts  Bay ;  the  c^her  entitled  an  act 
for  the  more  impartial  administration  of  justice  in 
said  province ;  and  by  enforcing  all  the  iniquitous 
'  acts  with  a  large  armed  force,  to  dragoon  and  enslave 
us. — That  the  late  act  of  Parliament  for  regulating 
anew  the  government  of  the  province,  expressly  ac- 
knowledges the  authority  of  the  charter :  and  the 
only  reason  suggested  in  the  preamble  is  the  inex- 
pediency of  continuing  our  privileges — That  the  act 
providing  for  mandamus  counsellors  to  be  appointed 
by  the  crown  is  a  violation  oif  the  charter ;  and  a 
fatal  blow  to  an  independent  and  just  legislature — 
That  no  State  can  long  exist  free  and  happy,  where 
the  course  of  justice  is  obstructed,  and  trials  by  jury 
destroyed  or  weakened — That  the  people  havQ  an 
absolute  right  of  meeting  together  to  consult  on  their 
grievances,  and  to  petition,  remonstrate,  and  use  all 
legal  measures  for  their  removal — That  the  law 
which  forbids  such  meetings  destroys  the  scaffold  of 
English  freedom,  and  reduces  us  to  an  abject  state 
of  vassalage  and  slavery — That,  in  our  opinion,  these 
acts  if  they  are  quietly  submitted  to,  will  annihi- 
late the  last  vestiges  of  liberty  in  the  province ;  and 
therefore  we  may.  be  justified  by  God  and  the  world, 
in  never  submitting  to  them."  Dr.  Foster  was  ap> 
pointed  a  surgeon  early  in  1775,  and  was  some 
mimths  at  the  head  of  the  military  medical  depart- 
ment, while  General  Ward  commanded  at  Cam- 
bridge ;  and  before  the  arrival  of  General  Washing- 
ton. On  the  20th  of  April,  the  day  after  the  battle 
of  Concord,  by  urgent  request  of  General  Ward  and 
Dr.  Warren,  he  attended' the  men  who  had  been 
bounded,  and  gave  up  his  other  and  common  prac- 


188 


JBDBDUH   FOeTBB. 


!i 


tice,  which  was  very  large.  On  the  18th  of  June, 
the  day  after  Bunker  hill  battle,  he  was  appointed 
by  the  Committee  of  Safety  to  attend  the  men 
wounded  on  that  day.  He  was  soon  after  appointed 
Surgeon  of  the  State  hospital  then  opened.  On  the 
defection  of  Dr.  £.  Church,  in  October,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  Gen.  Washington  Director-General  pro 
tern,  of  the  American  Hospital  Department.     Con- 

gress  soon  after  appointed  Dr.  Morgan  to  that  place  ; 
ut  Dr.  Foster  was  still  the  oldest  surgeon  in  the  hos- 
pital. Again,  in  1777,  General  Washington  appoint- 
ed him  to  take  charge  of  the  hospitals  in  the  eastern 
department.  Dr.  Foster,  retired  from  active  public 
life  in  1780,  near  the  close  of  the  year ;  being  then 
in  a  feeble  stale;  but  did  not  resign  his  commission. 
He  died  in  February  following,  at  the  age  of  forty- 
two,  greatly  lamented  as  an  able  phyeican  and  a  sin- 
cere patriot.  The  public  prints  of  the  day  refer  to 
him  in  high  terms  of  eulogy,  for  his  devotion  to  the 
cause  of  his  country..  It  was  said  that  his  health 
wai  greatly  injured  by  his  incessant  public  services, 
uo.n  April  1775,  to  the  time  he  retired  from  the  ar- 
niv.  And  now,  such  alas,  often  is  the  lot  of  public 
fidelity,  he  is  scarcely  remembered.  Several  mer>  of 
eminence  in  the  medical  profession,  studied  so*rtetime 
with  Dr.  Foster — as  Eusiis,  Welch,  and  Pi       t. 

FOSTER  Hon.  JEDEDIAH  was  graduated  in 
Harvard  College,  in  the  year  1744,  and  engaged  in 
the  practice  of.  the  law  in  the  towi  of  Brookfield, 
county  of  Worcester.  He  enjoyed,  in  a  high  degree, 
the  esteem  and  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens.  He 
had  a  seat  in  the  convention  as  a  delegate  from  Brook- 
field,  for  the  county  of  Worcester,  August  1774.  The 
doings  of  this  convention  were  highly  important,  in 
diflseminating  correct  political  principles,  in  giving 
a  true  account  of  the  British  plans  and  measnres, 
and  in  arousing  the  spirit  of  the  people  in  that  part 


THEODORE  FOSTER. 


189 


of  the  country.  Mr.  Foster  was  also  a  delegate  to 
the  several  provincial  Congresses  in  MassachusettSi 
which  met  in  October  1774,  February  1775,  and  in 
May  1775.  The  records  of  these  assemblies  show 
that  he  was  an  active  member,  and  had  great  in- 
fluence. His  name  appears  on  most  of  the  impor- 
tant committees  raised  by  each  Congress.  In  July 
1775,  he  was  elected  one  of  the  Executive  Council 
by  the  House  of  Representatives ;  as  he  had  been  in 
May  1774,  when  with  several  other  distinguished 
whig8,  he  received  the  negative  of  Governor  Gage. 
In  1775,  he  was  sent  to  lake  Champlain  and  vicinity, 
with  James  Sullivan  and  Walter  Spooner,  to  learn 
the  state  and  condition  of  that  part  of  the  country. 
In  1776,  Mr.  Foster  was  appointed  one  of  the  Judges 
of  the  Superior  Court.  He  was  also  sometime  Judge 
of  Probate  and  a  Justice  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas,  for  the  county  of  Worcester.  He  died  in  1779, 
at  the  age  of  fifty-six. 

FOSTER,  Hon.  THEODORE  a  son  of  Judge 
Foster,  received  his  education  in  Brown  University, 
with  the  class  of  1770,  which  was  the  second  class 
graduated  in  that  seminary.  Mr.  Foster  chose  the 
legal  profession ;  and  had  an  extensive  practice  in 
the  State  of  Rhode  Island.  He  was  several  years 
one  of  the  overseers  of  that  College,  and  ranked 
among  its  most  active  friends.  He  held  various  pub- 
lic offices  in  that  State  ;  and  at  different  times  was  a 
Senator  in  the  Congress  of  the  Uniteil  States.  His 
first  term  was  from  1792  to  1798— and  from  1804, 
on  the  resignation  of  W.  Bradford,  as  well  as  some- 
time as  his  colleague.  The  first  senators  from  Rhode 
Island  was  in  1 792..  as  the  federal  constitution  was 
not  adopted  there  till  1791.  The  character  of  Mr. 
Foster  was  highly  respected  by  his  fellow  citizens; 
and  he  often  received  their  suffrages  for  important 
stations,  at  different  periods  of  a  long  life.  i 


190 


THOMAS    FOXCUOFT. 


POXCROFT,  Rev.  THOMAS  many  years  a 
pastor  of  tho  first  Church  la  Boston,  was  born  in 
Cambridge,  and  graduated  in  Harvard  College  in 
1714.  He  had  the  reputation  of  a  diligent  student 
and  a  good  scholar,  when  he  left  the  University. 
He, was  ordained  in  1717,  as  colleague  to  Rev.  Mr. 
Wadsworth,  who  was  afterwards  the  president  of 
that  institution ;  when  Mr.  Chauncy  was  settled  in 
the  same  Church.  Mr.  Foxcrofi  and  Mr.  Chauncy, 
were  long  associated  as  pastor  and  teacher  of  this 
ancient  society.  It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  their 
sentiments  or  sermons  were  materially  opposite;  but 
their  people  were  wont  to  say,  "  that  Mr.  Foxcroft 
insisted  on  faith,  and  Dr.  Chauncy  on  good  works." 
The  parents  of  Mr.  Foxcroft  belonged  to  the  Episco- 
pal Church,  and  were  very  desirous  their  son  should 
take  ordination  of  a  bishop.  He  considered  it 
proper  to  study  the  question  fully  for  himself, 
whether  Presbyterian  ordination  were  not  sufficient 
and  valid,  and  also,  whether  there  was  a  foundation 
in  Scripture  for  the  different  ranks  of  clergymen, 
allowed  and  required  by  the  English  established 
Church.  He  often  conversed  with  the  Rev.  and 
learned  Nehemiah  Walter  of  Roxbury,  with  whoiii 
he  was  acquainted,  on  the  subject ;  whose  argu- 
ments had  the  effect  to  satisfy  Mr.  Foxcroft,  that  the 
Congregational  forms  and  government,  were  not  in 
'  accordance  with  apostolic  and  primitive  times.  He 
was  a  very  popular  preacher,  and  a  learned  theolo- 
gian. He  also  had  the  character  of  a  polite  and  ac- 
complished gentleman,  superior  to  most  others  of  the 
age.  In  the  latter  part  of  his  life,  he  was  subject  to 
many  infirmities,  and  was  often  Unable  to  perform 
the  usual  services  of  the  pulpit.  And  his  long  and 
feeble  state  of  health,  had  an  unhappy  influence  on 
his  mind,  causing  a  depression  of  spirits,  and  thus 
greatly  diminishing  his  usefulness,  as  a  minister  and 
a  public  character.    He  died  in  1769,  at  the  age  of 


-  .  V 


BENiAMIN  FftAintLlN. 


191 


seventy-two ;  having  betfn  in  the  ministry  fifty-one 
years.  His  publications  consist  of  numerous  ser- 
mons on  the  death  of  eminent  characters,  and  on 
other  public  occasions. 

FRANKLIN,  BENJAMIN  L  L  D.  F  R  S.  &c. 

^.  was  born  in  Boston,  1706,  in  a  house  opposite 
the  Old  South  church,  near  the  head  of  Milk  street. 
His  father  was  a  tallow-chandler ;  he  moved  to  the 
corner  of  Union  «nd  Hanover  Streets,  where  his 
widow,  after  liia  decease,  kept  boarders.  She  was  a 
daughter  of  P.  Folger  ef  Nantucket.  Franklin's 
oldest  brother  James. was  a  printer,  and  published 
a  newspaper ;  and  Benjamin  attended  to  that  art, 
under  his  brother.  The  paper  was  obnoxious  for  its 
free  sentiments  ;  and  Franklin  went  to  Philadelphia. 
Where  he  entered  the  printing  office  of  Andrew  Brad- 
ford, who  published  a  newspaper  in  that  town,  1720. 
He  wrote  some  pieces  for  that  paper  in  1722,  then 
only  sixteen  years  old  ;  one  was  a  severe  censure  on 
the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts,  for  imposing  a 
fine  and  threatening  imprisonment  of  his  brother 
James,  for  some  remarks  on  their  doings.  "  To 
punish  first,"  said  Franklin,  ''  and  then  inquire,  ac- 
cording to  Lord  Coke,  the  law  abhors."  James  had 
been  sentenced,  without  being  called  on  to  give  an 
answer.  But  Franklin  did  not  long  confine  him- 
self to  small  things,  nor  to  the  laborious  details  of  a 
printer's  press.  At  an  early  age,  he  discovered  a 
capacious  and  comprehensive  mind,  great  ingenuity 
in  mechanics  and  philosophy,  and  an  uncommon 
thirst  for  general  knowledge ;  and  he  became  one  of 
the  most  remarkable  men  in  America  or  Europe,  be- 
fore he  was  fifty  years  of  age.  He  was  among  the 
first  negotiators  of  the  age,  for  he  possessed  great 
knowledge  of  mankind  ;  and  with  much  simplicity 
of  character  could  detect  the  intrigues  and  hidden 
views  and  purposes  of  his  opponents.     He  was  long 


Ill 


m 


ENOCH     FBBBMAN. 


in  public  office  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  About 
the  year  1750,  he  made  important  discoveries  in  elec- 
tricity, and  applied  his  knowledge  of  its  nature  and 
properties  to  useful  purposes.  The  rods  proposed 
by  him  to  be  put  on  buildings  for  protecting  them, 
by  leading  the  electric  gas  to  the  earth,  and  thus 
save  them  from  harm,  had  a  good  effect. — In  1754, 
he  was  a  delegate  from  Pennsylvania,  with  delegates 
from  other  southern  provinces,  which  met  in  Con- 
gress at  Albany,  to  adjust  difficulties  with  the  six 
nations  of  Indians  residing  within  the  province  of 
New  York.  The  French  were  then  engaged  in 
making  attacks  on  the  frontier  settlements,  and  in- 
stigated the^  savage  tribes  to  join  them.  In  1764 
he  was  appointed  Deputy  Post  Master  General,  for 
America,  by  the  British  ministry;  from  which  he 
was  removed  in  1774 ;  and  in  1774,  was  agent  for 
Massachusetts  at  the  court  of  London.  He  was  one 
of  the  Continental  Congress  at  Philadelphia,  in  1774, 
and  a  member  of  the  committee  chosen  to  report  on 
the  subject  of  Independence.  Soon  after  the  De- 
claration of  Independence,  Dr.  Franklin  was  sent  an 
envoy  to  the  court  of  France.  He  remained  in 
Europe  several  years,  and  proved  to  be  an  able  diplo- 
matist. The  treaty  of  peace  made  in  1783,  between 
England,  France,  and  the  United  States  of  America, 
received  his  signature,  and  he  had  his  full  share  >  of 
influence  in  preparing  it.  After  this  great  event  he 
returned  to  the  United  States ;  and  was  one  of  the 
delegates  in  the  general  convention,  by  which  the 
Federal  Constitution  was  formed,  in  1787.  He  died 
in  1790,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four. 

FREEMAN,  Hon.  ENOCH  was  a  citizen  of  Port- 
land, formerly  Falmouth,  in  Maine;  and  distin- 
guished for  his  opposition  to  the  policy  and  measures 
m  the  British  ministry,  relative  to  the  American 
.cobnies,  in  1775.    He  was  a  native  of  Eastham,  on 


BN0C8  FBEBNAN. 


193 


.  About 
J  in  elec- 
itur©  and 
proposed 

ing  them, 
and  thus 
In  1754, 
delegates 
jt  in  Con- 
ih  the  six 
tovince  of 
ngaged  in 
its,  and  in- 

Seneral,  for 
I  vrhich  he 
8  agent  for 
He  was  one 
lia,  in  1774, 
to  report  on 
ter  the  De- 
was  sent  an 
remained  in 
tiablediplo- 
83,  between 
of  America, 
full  share  of 
•eat  event  he 
as  one  of  the 
iv  which  the 
17     He  died 


Cape  Cod;    and  reoeived  his  public  education  in 
Harvard  College,  wilh  the  class  of  17129.    When  a 
convention  was  held  in  the  County  of  Cumberland, 
September  1774,  he  was  a  member,  and  chosen  to 
preside.    And  was  the  delegate  also  to   the  first 
Provincial  Congress,  at  Concord,  in  October  1774. 
The  Cumberland  Convention,  in  an  address  to  the 
people,  say,  "  We  think  it  the  duty  of  every  good 
citizen,  for  his  own  sake,  as  well  as  that  of  future 
generations,  to  use  his  utmost  care  and  endeavor  to 
preserve  the  English  Constitution  inviolate  and  un- 
impaired :  for  we  regard  it  not  only  as  the  foundation 
of  all  our  civil  rights  and  liberties,  but  as  a  system 
of  government  the  best  calculated  to  promote  the 
people's  peace  and  happiness :    and  we  lament  that 
in  the  present  administration,  there  are  men  so  lost  to 
all  the  principles  of  equity  and  justice,  as  to  attempt 
a  violation  of  the  rights  which  we  have  long  enjoyed  ; 
and  which,  while  we  profess  ourselves,  as  we  now 
do,  the  loyal  subjects  of  George  III,  our  rightful  sove- 
reign, we  have  a  right  still  to  enjoy  entire  and  un- 
molested.— But  since  the  ministry  have  borne  their 
tyranny  to  such  a  length  as  to  endeavor  to  execute 
their  wicked  designs  by  military  force,  we  fear  it  is 
theiraim  to  introduce  despotic  monarchy.  But  though 
their  tyranny  and  oppression  seem  now  with  hasty 
strides  to  threaten  the  colonies  wilh  ruin,  we  hope 
no  vengeance  will  affright,  or  wiles  allure  us  to  give 
up  our   dear-bought  liberty,  that  choicest  boon  of 
Heaven,  which  our  fathers  came  into  these  regions 
tp  enjoy ;  and  which  we  will  retain,  while  life  en- 
ables us  to  struggle  for  its  blessings.     In  parliament' 
we  have  none  to  represent  us,  and  the  great  distance 
of  England,  separated  from  us  by  a  vast  and  hazard- 
ous ocean,  renders  it  impossible  we  ever  can,  in 
reason  or  equity.     But  we  have  by  compact,  un- 
broken by  us,  and  by  a  charter   which  our  fore- 
fathers procured,  a  parliament  of  our  own,  or  rather  a 
17 


IM 


JAHM    FBiniAN. 


I    i 


a  l^giflatWe  general  court,  wherein  we  are  eqnallf 
repreiented,  and  to  the  laws  of  which,  in  obedience 
to  the  laws  of  God,  we  ought  only  to  be  obedieri." 
With  Jedediah  Preble,  he  was  employed  by  that 
body  in  1775,  to  superintend  the  execution  of  meas- 
ures for  the  defence  of  the  posts  and  people  in  Maine. 
He  also  acted  as  Colonel  of  a  regiment  of  militia,  at 
that  period;  but  his  feeble  health  and  advancing 
years,  prevented  his  continuance  in  the  public  ser- 
vice. His  patriotism  and  his  zeal  in  the  support  of 
civil  liberty  were  always  conspicuous. 

FREEMAN,  Rev.  JAMES  D.  D.  was  of  a  fam- 
ily in  the  County  of  Barnstable ;  and  received  his 
public  education  in  Harvard  College,  with  the  class 
of  graduates  in  1777.  On  leaving  college,  he  studied 
theology,  and  was  chosen  minister  of  the  religious 
Society  in  Boston,  which  worshipped  in  the  Stone 
Chapel,  soipetimes  called  the  King's  Chapel.  But 
he  was  not  an  Episcopalian,  in  the  common  accepta- 
tion of  that  term.  He  did  not  believe  in  the  divine 
right  of  bishops,  nor  in  an  high  order  of  ministers  to 
be  styled  bishops,  different  from  any  and  all  Christian 
teachers  and  pastors.  Nor  did  he  believe  in  the 
thirty-nine  articles,  required  to  be  subscribed  by  the 
ministers  of  the  English  Episcopal  Church.  Es^ 
pecially  did  he  object  to  the  trinitarian  dogma,  and 
to  the  reading  of  the  Athenian  or  Nicene  creed. 
He  considered  them  the  system  of  fallible  men,  and 
not  as  taught  or  supported  by  the  apostolical  and  in- 
spired writers.  At  his  request,  therefore,  the  liturgy 
which  had  been  used  in  that  church,  was  materially 
altered ;  and  whatever  implied  the  above  articles  of 
faith  were  expunged.  He  was  ordained,  or  sepa- 
rated to  his  sacred  dffice  by  a  few  of  the  church 
chosen  for  the  purpose.  And  a  very  great  majority 
of  the  old  members  remained. in  the  society  ;  but  few 
left  it  from  disliko  of  the  change  made.    In  a  few 


•AMOIL  FBIBMAN. 


IW 


years  after  the  settlement  of  Dr.  Freeman,  the  most  of 
the  congregational  clergy  of  Boston  united  with  him 
and  his  Church  in  acts  of  Christian  communion  and 
intercourse,  and  for  the  last  twenty  years  of  his  life, 
he  was  of  the  same  ministerial  association  with 
them.  Some  of  the  Church  prayers  and  forms  how- 
ever, were  used  by  him  in  his  public  religious  ser- 
vices while  he  was  able  to  officiate  at  the  Christian 
altar.  Dr.  Freeman  was  a  good  classical  and  gen- 
eral scholar,  well  acquainted  with  history,  and  with 
the  works  of  the  most  elegant  and  accomplished 
writers  in  the  English  language.  He  was  not  fond 
of  giving  his  compositions  to  the  public;  but 
through  the  urgency  of  his  friends  he  consented  to 
the  publication  of  some  occasional  discourses.  And 
by  their  request,  a  volume  of  his  sermons  was  is- 
sued from  the  press  during  the  latter  part  of  his  life. 
They  were  well  received,  and  passed  through  a 
second  edition.  Dr.  Freeman  was  a  fearless  and  in- 
dependent inquirer ;  but  not  rash,  nor  fond  of  ino- 
vating,  unless  truth  required  it.  He  had  a  good  por- 
tion of  modesty ;  and  could  hardly  tolerate  conceit, 
or  dogmatism,  or  censoriousness  in  others.  Dr. 
Freeman  died  in  1S35,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
eighty.  He  had  lived  in  retirement  for  several 
years,  on  account  of  great  bodily  infirmity ;  but  not 
forgotten,  or  neglected  by  his  many  friends.  Dr. 
Freeman  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Massachu- 
setts Historical  Society;  and  contributed  several 
valuable  articles  which  appear  in  its  publications. 

FRBEMAl^,  SAMUEL  Esq.  of  Falmouth,  was 
quite  a  young  man  when  the  war  of  the  Revolution 
began,  in  1775.  But  he  studied  the  nature  of  the 
political  controversy,  then  existing  between  the 
Colonies,  and  the  parent  government  in  England, 
and  soon  became  decided  and  zealous  on  the  part  of 
the  former.    When  a  Gcnveatioa  was  held  in  the 


i96 


LBTI  f aifBII. 


County  of  Cumberland,  in  Beplember  1774,  he  was 
a  member  from  Falmouth,  and  choeen  secretarf  of 
the  meeting.  He  wae  also  elected  a  delesate  to  the 
•econd  and  third  Provincial  Congresa  of  If  aasachn- 
setis,  in  1775.  Of  the  third  Congress,  holden  at 
Watertown,  in  May  1775,  Mr.  Freeman  was  chosen 
secretary  by  a  unanimous  vote ;  Colonel  Benjamin 
Lincoln  having  declined  a  re-election.  General 
Joseph  Warren  was  elected  president  of  the  Con- 
vention, in  the  room  of  John  Hancock,  who  was 
then  attending  the  Continental  Congress  mt  Phila- 
delphia. When  a  House  of  Representatives  met  in 
July  1775,  Mr.  Freeman  was  appointed  clerk.  He 
had  quick  perceptions,  and  was  prompt  in  preparing 
all  papers  necessary  for  one  in  the  office  he  held. 
He  continued  faithful  to  the  interests  of  the  country ; 
and  during  a  long  life,  he  filled  several  important 
offices  in  his  native  town,  and  for  the  County  of 
Cumberland.  He  was  also  an  active  and  efficient 
friend  of  Bowdoin  College;  being  several  years  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  or  overseers.  As 
a  member  and  an  officer  of  the^Church  of  Christ,  he 
was  very  exemplary,  and  in  his  life  and  conversa- 
tion, gave  evidence  that  he  had  much  of  the  spirit 
of  his  divine  Master. 

FRISBIE,  Rev.  LEVI  was  a  member  of  the 
first  class  graduated  in  Dartmouth  College,  which 
was  in  the  year  1771.  He  previously  spent  three 
years  at  Yale  College,  for  which  he  was  prepared 
by  Dr.  Wheelock,  the  founder  of  Dartmouth  College, 
who  had  kept  a  high  school  in  Lebanon,  in  Con- 
necticut. Mr.  Frisbie  received  ordination  in  1775, 
and  engaged  in  the  Missionary  service;  but  the  war 
which  began  that  year,  obstructed  his  services  in 
that  employment ;  and  in  1776,  he  was  settled  over 
the  first  Church  and  Society  in  the  ancient  town  of 
Ipswich,  as  successor  to  Rev,  Nathaniel  Rogers.  He 


Lin  rKitm. 


ifr 


he  was 

etury  of 
le  to  the 
Bwachti- 
Dlden  at 
i8  chosen 
lenjamin 
General 
the  Con- 
ivho  was 
ot  Phila- 
is  met  in 
lerk.    He 
preparing 
he  held. 
J  country ; 
important 
>unty  of 
i  efficient 
,1  years  a 
seers.     As 
Christ,  he 
conversa- 
the  spirit 


)er  of  the 
ege,  which 
pent  three 
prepared 
h  College, 
n,  in  Oon- 
n  in  1776, 
ut  the  war 
services  in 
ettled  over 
nt  town  of 
iogers.  He 


B 


died  in  1806,  aged  fifty-seven.  He'  was  a  aerioas, 
•raogelical  preacher;  and  ever  desirous  of  pro- 
moting the  spiritual  improvement  of  the  people  com- 
mitted to  his  ministerial  charge. 

FRISBIB,  LEVI  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Frisbie, 
before  mentioned,  received  his  first  degree  in  Har- 
vard College,  in  the  year  1802 :  and  had  a  high 
reputation,  at  that  early  period  of  life,  as  a  scholar, 
and  a  man  of  fine  taste  in  composition.  His  style 
was  very  correct  and  chaste ;  and  at  the  same  time 
rich  with  good  moral  sentiments.  He  did  not 
sacrifice  sense  or  truth  to  harmonious  phrases  or  an 
ornamented  style :  And  an  elevated  moral  tone  per- 
vaded all  his  writings.  He  was  appointed  a  tutor 
in  the  University,  in  1805 ;  and  held  that  office 
nearly  six  years;  when  he  was  elected  Professor  o£> 
the  liatin  language  ;  and  in  1817,  Professor  of  nat- 
ural religion,  moral  philosophy,  and  civil  polity; 
and  continued  in  that  station  until  his  death,  in 
1822.  His  taste,  his  studies,  and  his  attainments, 
fitted  him  in  a  peculiar  manner  for  the  department 
he  was  called  to  fill,  and  the  instructions  it  became  his 
duty  to  give.  Hi»  comparatively  early  death  was 
greatly  lamented  by  his  personal  friends,  and  by  all 
who  professed  to  be  the  friends  of  religion  and  litera- 
ture. 

17» 


♦H 


■k'.ff'i'i^  If  J  ( 


b^ik 


■  i'  1 


CHAPTER  VII. 


G 


^{ij* 


G ALLISON,  JOHN  Esq.  was  a  native  of  Mar- 
blehead,  and  had  his  public  education  in  Harvard 
College  with  the  class  which  was  graduated  in  1807. 
He  engaged  in  the  profession  of  law,'  and  opened  an 
office  as  a  practising  attorney  in  Boston.  He  had  a 
good  share  of  business ;  and  was  esteemed  alike  for 
his  ability  and  integrity.  It  was  evident  that  he 
acted  from  correct  and  honorable  principles  in  all 
his  professional  engagements  and  duties.  But  he 
did  not  confine  his  views  and  efforts  to  the  lucrative 
business  of  an  attorney.  He  felt  his  obligations  to 
society  ;  and  was  desirous  of  aiding  in  the  enlight- 
enment and  moral  welfare  of  the  community.  Sever- 
al benevolent  and  religious  societies  could  boast  of 
him  as  a  useful  and  attentive  member.  His  c6nduct 
is  an  example  to  be  followed  by  young  men  engaged 
in  the  profession  of  the  law  or  of  medicine,  or  whose 
principal  business  is  that  of  trade  and  commerce : 
for  they  may  find  some  leisure  for  attention  and  ef- 
fort in  promoting  the  great  cause  of  knowledge  and 
virtue,  for  the  benefit  of  the  unfortunate,  the  unedu- 
cated, and  the  degraded.  Mr.  Gallison  died  in  1820, 
at  the  age  of  thirty-two.  "  Many  die  as  young ;  but 
few  as  safe."  And  few  have  left  so  high  a  moral 
character.  He  early  took  part  in  favor  of  plans  for 
the  gradual  termination  of  slavery  in  the  United 


BBNBT  OABDNBI. 


199 


States;  but  was  not  an  ultra-abolitionist.  He  was 
also  an  efficient  member  of  the  Peace  Society ;  and 
deliTered  a  discourse  before  the  association  which  did 
him  great  credit  as  a  "  ripe  scholar,"  and  a  benevo- 
lent man.  :^ 

*  GARDNER,  HENRY  Esq,  of  Stowe,  in  the 
County  of  Middlesex,  engaged  in  the  support  of  civil 
liberty,  at  an  early  period  of  the  dispute  with  Great 
Britain,  which  begau  in  1765,  and  continued  till  the 
war  in  1776.  He  possessed  an  ardent  spirit  and  a 
good  degree  of  information  on  public  affairs ;  and 
had  great  influence  with  the  people  in  his  vicinity. 
He  was  an  alumnus  of  Harvard  College,  where  he 
received  his  first  degree  in  1750.  He  had  a  seat  in 
the  Middlesex  Convention,  holden  in  September 
1774,  which  met  to  consult  for  the  common  defence 
and  welfare. — It  consisted  of  one  hundred  and  fifty 
delegates.  At  this  convention,  and  at  others  held 
during  the  same  month  in  most  of  the  counties,  it 
was  recommended  to  have  a  Provincial  Congress ; 
which  was  accordingly  convened  in  Salem,  October 
7,  177^,  and  the  day  after  adjourned  to  Concord. 
The  members  assembled  at  Salem  were  ninety,  and 
at  Concord  two  hundred  and  eighty-eight.  Mr. 
Gardner  was  one  of  this  Congress ;  and  of  that  in 
February  1775,  and  May  1775,  which  met  at 
Watertown.  In  December  1774,  he  was  chosen 
Treasurer  of  the  province,  by  the  first  Congress: 
and  the  several  towns  in  the  province  were  advised 
and  directed  to  pay  their  taxes  to  him,  and  not  to 
,  Mr.  Gray,  then  the  treasurer,  but  also  adhered  to  the 
cause  of  the  British  ministry.  Mr.  Gardner  was  a 
sincere  patriot,  and  rendered  very  important  service 
to  the  province  by  his  diligence  and  fidelity.  He 
was  afterwards  a  member  of  the  Academy  of  Arts 
and  Sciences,  and  had  the  character  of  a  learned 
man.  /    ,>    « 


■■1  -t.-/^  V       *'  K  ■ 


soo 


THOMAS  OARPNBB.— CBBNEZER  GAT. 


t\ 


GARDNER,  Col.  THOMAS  of  Cumbridge,  early 
engaged  in  the  dispute  with  Engiaad,  on  the  sub- 
ject of  colonial  rights,  and  ranked  among  the  moet 
zealous  sons  of  liberty,  in  1774-1775.  He  was  one 
of  the  Convention  in  Middlesex  County,  in  August 
1774,  which  was  held  to  consult  on  measures  of 
public  safety  and  defence,  when  the  people  were 
deeply  anxious  in  consequence  of  the  arbitrary  and 
oppressive  acts  of  the  British  government.  He  was 
also  a  member  of  the  Provincial  Congress  of  Massa- 
chusetts,  in  October  1774,  and  February  1775.  And 
by  that  Congress  appointed  one  of  the  Committee  of 
Safety,  chosen  to  act  instead  of  a  governor  and  coun- 
cil ;  then  the  mere  tools  of  the  British  ministry.  He 
early  raised  a  regiment  of  men,  according  to  previous 
advice  of  the  Congress,  and  in  May  1775,  had  a 
commission  as  Colonel.  He  was  engaged  in  the 
memorable  battle  of  Bunker-Hill,  June  17th,  1775. 
He  was  mortally  wounded  on  that  day,  and  died  on 
the  18th.  He  was  of  the  highest  grade  of  officers, 
next  to  General  Warren,  who  were  of  the  "  noble 
army  of  martyrs,"  that  sacrificed  themselves  on  that 
mourful,  but  glorious  day,  and  no  one  except  War- 
ren, was  more  lamented  and  honored  in  his  death. 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Parker,  of  Vrescott's  regiment, 
a  citizen  of  Chelmsford,  was  also  wounded  on  tha| 
day,  and  taken  prisoner  :  and  died  in  Boston,  a  few 
days  after. 

GAY,  Rev.  EBENEZER  D.  D.  received  a  de- 
gree in  Harvard,  in  1714 ;  and  settled  as  minister  of 
the  first  Church  and  society  in  Hingham,  in  the 
year  1718.  Few  have  enjoyed  so  long,  so  useful 
aiid  peaceful  a  ministry.  He  died  in  1787,  at  the 
age  of  ninety -one,  after  being  the  pastor  of  that 
Cnristian  society  sixty-nine  years  His  mental  pow- 
ers continued  to  the  close  of  a  long  life  without  be- 
ing very  perceptibly  impaired.      He  preached  the 


tLBKRMSK    OBBftT. 


26i 


Lord's  day  before  his  decease ;  which  was  without 
any  serious  warning  to  alarm  his  family  and  fViendH. 
Dr.  Gay  was  one  of  the  most  liberal  dirines  of  hfs 
time.  He  avoided  all  usual  controversial  subjects 
in  his  preaching;  and  yet 'the  great  and  essential 
doctrines  of  the  gospel  were  urged  by  him  with  zeal 
and  fervor.  In  his  writings  also,  there  seldom  ap- 
pears any  disposition  to  dogmatise  or  to  insist  On 
speculative  points  in  theology.  He  called  no  one 
master  but  Christ,  and  appealed  only  to  his  dis- 
courses and  the  writings  of  the  inspired  apostles,  as 
authority  on  the  subject  of  religion  ;  but  he  was  in- 
clined rather  to  the  Arminian  than  to  the  Calvinistic 
creed.  Many  of  his  occasional  sermons  were  pub- 
lished ;  and  are  justly  considered  as  equal  to  the 
most  rational  and  useful  which  issued  from  the  press 
eighty  or  one  hundred  years  ago.  When  he  was 
eighty  years  of  age,  he  preached  a  sermon  called  the 
"  Old  man's  Calendar ; "  which  passed  through 
three  editions  in  this  country,  and  two  in  London.  ', 

GERRY,  Hon.  ELBRIDGE  was  a  native  of 
Marblehead.  He  received  his  education  in  Harvard 
College  in  the  year  1763;  and  after  leaving  the  col- 
lege engaged  in  commerce,  in  his  native  town.  The 
nolitical  disputes  with  England  began  in  1765,  and 
Mr.  Gerry,  like  many  of  the  sons  of  Harvard,  who 
were  in  early  manhood,  took  a  deep  interest  in  that 
controversy.  In  September  1774,  Mr.  Gerry  was  a 
member  from  Marblehead  of  a  convention  in  tlio 
county  of  Essex,  at  a  time  of  ^reat  alarm  and  anxi- 
ety in  consequence  of  the  arbitrary  and  oppressive 
measures  of  the  British  ministry.  And  he  was  also 
chosen  as  a  delegate  to  the  Provincial  Congress  of 
Massachusetts,  in  October  1774,  from  the  same  town. 
He  was  again  returned  as  a  delegate  to  the  two  next 
Congresses  in  Massachusetts  ;  one  in  February 
1776,   and  one  in  May,  of  the  same  year.      In 


aoe 


CALTUf  OODDABD. 


theae  assemblies  of  patriotic  citizens,  Mr.  Geny 
was  among  the  most  active  and  intelligent  He 
was  frequently  on  important  committees,  and  not 
seldom  the  chairman.  In  1775,  he  was  chosen  one 
of  the  five  delegates  from  Massachusetts  to  the  con- 
tinental Congress,  which  met  in  Philadelphia,  in  the 
room  of  Mr.  Bowdoin,  whose  infirm  health  induced 
him  to  decline.  He  continued  in  the  General  Con- 
gress  several  successive  years :  and  was  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  convention  held  in  Philadelphia,  in  1787, 
to  prepare  a  new  federal  compact  for  the  United 
States.  He  had  objections  to  the  form  of  govern- 
ment proposed  by  that  convention ;  but  he  was 
chosen  a  member  of  the  first  Congress,  and  united 
with  other  patriotic  citizens,  who  more  fully  ap- 
proved of  the  constitution,  in  giving  efficiency  to  the 
government,  in  adopting  measures  for  supporting  the 
credit,  and  advancing  the  prosperity  of  the  country. 
He  continued  in  this  high  station  several  years,  and 
ranked  among  the  most  actiye  and  intelligent  mem- 
bers. He  faithfully  advocated  the  peculiar  interests 
of  the  New  England  States,  navigation  and  com- 
merce, while  he  always  regarded  the  rights  and  wel- 
fare of  the  whole  Union.  He  was  appointed  an  En- 
voy to  France  in  1798  :  where  it  was  supposed,  by 
some  of  the  people,  that  he  did  not  act  with  sufficient 
decision  and  firmness  in  resisting  the  intrigues  of  the 
French  ;  but  his  patriotism  was  wholly  unimpeacfa- 
ed.  In  1809  and  1810,  Mr.  Gerry  was  chosen  Gov- 
ernor of  Massachusetts.  This  was  a  time  when  par- 
ty feelings  were  highly  exasperated  ;  and  he  yielded 
too  much  to  the  more  violent  men  of  the  party  by 
which  he  was  elected.  In  1813,  he  was  chosen 
Vice  President  of  the  United  States  ;  and  died  while 
in  that  station,  1815. 

GODDARD,   Hon.  -  CALVIN  was  a   native  of 
Shrewsbury,  in  Massachusetts,  and  received  his  pub- 


BIIfJAMtN  OOODHUB. 


203 


Geny 

it  He 
and  not 
)sen  on© 
the  con- 

a,  in  the 
induced 

ral  Con- 
>  a  roem- 
in  1787, 
e  United 
[  govern- 
i  he  was 
nd  united 
fuUy  ap- 
Qcy  to  the 
>orting  the 
e  country, 
years,  and 
gent  mem- 
ir  interests 
and  com- 
s  and  wel- 
ted an  En- 
pposed,  by 
h  sufficient 
igues  of  the 
uiimpeach- 
hosen  Gov- 
j  when  paT- 
he  yielded 
le  party  by 
was  chosen 
1  died  while 


native  of 
ved  his  pub- 


lic education  in  Dartmouth  College,  in  the  year  1766. 
He  passed  two  years  as  a  teacher  of  youth  in  the 
Academy  at  Plainfield,  Connecticut ;  and  there  en- 
gaged in  the  study  of  the  law.     He  began  to  practice 
in  his  profession,  1792,  in  the  County  of  Windham. 
In  1793,  he  represented  the  town  of  Plainfield.  in  the 
General  Assembly  of  Connecticut;  and  was  re-elect- 
ed for  five   successive   years   following — the  last  of 
which  he,  was  speaker.     He  was  afterwards  Mem- 
ber of  Congress  for  three  terms,  when  he  resigned  his 
seat  in  the  national  Legislature,     during  that  period, 
from  1800  to  1807,  and  the  time  might  be  extended^ 
the  State  of  Connecticut  had  able  representatives  in 
the  government  of  the  United  States  ;  and  Mr.  God- 
dard  was  not  the  least  distinguished  for  good  sense 
and  political   knowledge,  or  ability  to  support  the 
best  interests  of  the  country.    On  retiring  from  Qoii- 
gress,  Mr;  Goddard  moved  to  Norwich,  and  was  sev- 
eral years  the  Mayor  of  that  city.     Subsequently,  in 
1812-1814,  he  had  a  seat  in  the  Senate,  in  Connecti- 
cut, and  was  a  delegate  to  the  Hartford  Convention, 
in  1815.     He  also  had  a  sear  on  the  bench  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  that  State  for  five  years,  when  he 
was  superseded,  on  a  political  change  of  the  govern- 
ment.    This  is  one  of  the  evils  attending  free  gov- 
ernments, especially  when  party  feelings  are  exas- 
perated, but  it  is  an  evil  which  must  be  endured  for 
the  sake  of  liberty.  Mr.  Goddard  died  in  March  1842, 
aged  seventy-four. 

GOODHUE,  Hon.  BENJAMIN  was  born  in  Sa- 
lem, and  graduated  in  Harvard  College,  in  the  year 
1766.  He  early  engaged  in  commercial  pursuits ; 
and  was  many  years  an  active  and  successful  mer- 
chant in  his  native  town.  He  was  not  wholly  ab- 
sorbed in  acquiring  property ;  but  took  a  due  interest 
in  public  and  political  affairs.  In  1794,  he  was 
chosen  a   Representative  in  Congress ;  and  proved 


304 


dOOKIN. 


ap  able  supporter  of  the  Washington  administration, 
at  that  critical  period,  by  his  correct  knowledge  of 
the  cornmercial  interests  of  the  United  States,  and 
his  ability  as  a  financier.  In  1798,  he  was  elected 
Senator  in  Congress  by  the  Legislature  of  Massa- 
chusetts ;  and  in  that  station  also,  he  rendered  im- 
portant service  to  the  country.  In  some  of  the 
members  of  Congress  from  the  southern  States,  at 
that  time,  there  was  an  unwillingness  to  legislate 
with  a  view  to  the  interest  of  commerce,  or  an  in- 
difference to  its  extension  or  protection.  The  mem- 
bers from  the  eastern  States  deemed  it  good  policy 
to  foster  and  protect  the  interests  of  trade  and  navi- 
gation. And  none  were  more  attentive  to  the  sub- 
ject than  Mr.  Goodhue  ;  none  better  understood  .the 
benefits  of  foreign  commerce  to  the  United  States, 
and  none  were  more  zealous  and  efficient  in  eflforts 
to  promote  or  maintain  it.  During  the  period  he 
was  in  the  federal  legislature,  his  devotion  to  the 
public  interests  was  most  assiduous,  and  the  benefit 
of  his  services  surpassed  by  very  few. 

GOOKIN,  DANIEL  Esq.  was  several  years  one 
of  the  magistrates  in  Massachusetts,  from  1650  to 
1680.  He  came  into  the  Colony  from  Virginia,  a 
few  yeafs  after  Massachusetts  was  first  settled.  He 
then  had  serious  views  on  religion,  and  became  at- 
tached to  the  cause  of  the  Puritans.  He  took  an 
active  part  in  ecclesiastical  as  well  as  in  civil  afiairs; 
and  was  soon  much  employed  in  the  public  service  ; 
as  a  Representative,  and  one  of  the  Board  of  Assist- 
.ahts.  He  had  the  character  of  an  upright  magis- 
trate, and  sincere  Christian :  and  he  also  made  great 
\eifforts  for  converting  and  civilizing  the  native  In- 
dians. He  provided  for  their  instruction,  both  young 
and  old ;  and  often  united  with  Mr.  Eliot,  Bourne, 
and  others,  in  this  benevolent  purpose.  In  the  dis- 
putes   in   his   time,  between    Massachusetts    and 


CttBISTOPHER  GOBS. 


205 


Charles  II,  when  the  rulers  in  ihe  colony  were' 
accused  of  exercising  undue  authority,  and  commis- 
sioners were  sent  from  England  to  control  or  revoke 
the  proceedings  of  the  General  Court,  Mr.^  Gookin 
was  one  of  those  who  refused  to  submit,  and  zeal- 
ously contended  for  all  charter  rights  and  privileges. 
Some  of  the  citizens  at  that  period,  were  disposed  to 
submit  to  the  arbitrary  plans  of  king  Charles  and 
his  court.  But  the  majority  refused  ;  and  insisted 
on  exercising  such  a  degree  of  power  as  was  neces- 
sary for  the  internal  government  of  the  Colony. 

GORE,  Hon.  CHRISTOPHER  L  L.  D.  received 
his  early  education  in  Boston,  the  place  of  his  birth, 
and  was  graduated  in  Harvard  College  in  the  year 
1776,  at  the  age  of  eighteen.  He  had  been  well 
fitted  for  the  College,  having  pursued  his  classical 
studies  under  John  Lovell,  master  of  the  south 
Latin  school  in  Boston.  On  leaving  college,  he 
soon  engaged  in  the  study  of  law  with  Hon.  John 
Lowell,  one  of  the  most  eminent  barristers  in  Mas- 
sachusetts. Their  mutual  regards  for  each  other 
were  honorable  to  both.  Judge  Lowell  had  a 
nice  sense  of  honor  and  justice  ;  and  his  pupil, 
through  the  instruction  and  example  of  his  teacher, 
or  from  innate  feelings  of  propriety,  always  conduct- 
ed unexceptionably  as  a  lawyer  and  a-  public  man. 
He  held  several  highly  important  offices — as  a  Dis- 
trict Attorney  of  the  United  States,  by  appointment 
of  Washington,  in  1790 — as  Commissioner  in  1796,  to 
settle  the  claims  of  American  citizens  on  the  British 
government  for  spoliations  on  the  commerce  of  the 
country,  in  1793,  after  the  treaty  made  by  Mr.  Jay. 
Mr.  Gore  discharged  the  difficult  and  delicate  duties 
of  that  embassy  with  entire  fidelity  and  great  abilfty. 
In  1804,  he  was  Charge  d^ Affaires  to  the  British 
court.  After  his  return  to  Massachusetts,  he  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  the  law,  and  at  the  same  time  cui- 
18 


206 


NATHA?IIBL  OOEBAMi 


tivated  and  ombellished  hisfarm.at  Waltham,  which 
was  ona  of  the  best  in  the  State.  In  1806  and  1807, 
he!  held  a  seat  in  the  Senate  of  the  Common  vealihi 
as  a  member  from  the  county  of  Suffolk :  and  in 
1809  was  chosen  Chief  Magistrate.  This  was  a 
time  of  strong  party  feelings,  but  his  conduct  was 
allowed  to  be  impartial  and  honorable.  At  a  later 
day,  1814,  Mr.  Gore  was  appointed  a  Senator  in 
Congress,  for  Massachusetts,  and  continued  in  that 
high  station  three  years.  He  had  a  seat  in  the 
national  Senate,  during  part  of  the  war  of  1812- 
1815,  and  his  political  course  was  marked  by  firm- 
ness in  advocating  the  rights  of  his  State,  and  con- 
ciliation towards  his  opponents.  Mr.  Gore  took  an 
active  part  in  several  literary,  charitable  and  re- 
ligious societies,  and  presided  over  the  Massachu- 
setts  Historical  Society.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  and  of  the 
corporation  of  Harvard  College,  and  the  Massachu- 
setts Evangelical  Association.  He  died  in  March 
1829,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight.  He  left  no  children  ; 
and  after  providing  honorably  for  the  support  of  Mrs. 
Gore,  he  made  Harvard  College  his  residuary  lega- 
tee ;  being  about  one  hundred  thousand  dollars. 

GORHAM,  Hon.  NATHANIEL  of  Charlestown, 
became  distinguished,  in  early  life,  for  his  opposition 
to  the  arbitrary  measures  of  the  parent  government 
relating  to  the  people  in  the  American  colonies ;  and 
for  his  zealous  exertions  in  support  of  civil  liberty. 
He  appears  to  have  taken  a  correct  and  full  view  of 
the  controversy ;  and,  though  hoping  at  first  that 
Britain  would  relax  her  high  and  unjust  claims  to 
rule  the  colonies  according  to  her  will  in  all  res- 
pects, in  their  internal  policy  and  the  imposition  of 
taxes,  as  well  as  in  cases  of  foreign  commerce,  he 
could  nqt  fail  to  see,  by  the  signs  of  the  times  in 
177Q  and;  1771,  that  the  maintenance  of  our  righjs 


lii 


■AMVBL  OBBM. 


207 


would  require  a  great  struggle  and  immense  sacri- 
fices. Like  many  other  patriots  of  that  period,  he 
was  willing,  no  doubt,  to  suffer  much,  to  repeat  pe- 
titions, and  wait  long  for  redress ;  but  resolved,  if  ne- 
cessary for  the  support  of  civil  liberty  and  charter 
rights,  to  defend  them  at  every  hazard.  In  1771, 
and  for  the  three  following  years,  he  was  returned  a 
member  of  the  General  Court  from  Charlestown. — 
He  was  much  respected  by  the  members  of  the  legis- 
lature :  but,  in  some  cases,  acted  with  so  much  in- 
dependence of  his  party,  that  he  gave  temporary 
ofience.  His  talents  and  integrity  were  too  justly 
appreciated,  however,  to  prevent  his  being  again  em- 
ployed in  the  public  service  at  a  time  so  critical, 
when  all  men  of  intelligence  and  patriotism  were  ^ 
needed  to  direct  and  to  lead.  Mr.  Gorham  was 
chosen  a  delegate  to  the  first  and  second  Provincial 
Congress  in  Massachusetts,  October  1774,  and  Fe1)ra- 
ary  1775.  In  1779  he  was  a  Representative  to  the 
General  Court  from  Charlestown ;  and  a  delegate  to 
the  Convention  in  Massachusetts  for  forming  a  new 
civil  constitution  for  the  Commonwealth.  A  few 
years  later,  he  was  one  of  the  delegates  to  the  Con- 
tinental Congress  from  Massachusetts;  and  was  elect- 
ed President  of  that  very  respectable  assemljly.  He 
was  also  one  of  the  four  delegates  from  Massachusetts 
to  the  general  convention  in  1787,  for  forming  a  new 
federal  constitution :  and  he  had  no  inconsiderable 
influence  in  procuring  its  adoption  afterwards,  by  a 
majority  in  the  convention  in  Massachusetts.  Mr. 
Gorham  died  in  1796 ;  and  public  honors  were  paid 
to  his  memory,  as  to  one  held  in  high  esteem  alike 
for  his  public  and  private  virtues. 

* 

6RE£N,  SAMUEL  was  the  first  person  in  New 
England  who  had  a  printing  press ;  which  Was  set 
up  ia  1639.  The  press  was  brought  over  by  Mis. 
QUver,  widow  of  Rev.  Joseph  Glover,  who  had  been 


208 


NATHANIEL  GREENE. 


encouraged  by  Governor  Winslow  of  Plymouth,  to 
this  undertaking.  Mr.  Qlover  died  the  year  he  was 
preparing  to  settle  in  America ;  but  his  widow  em- 
igrated to  New  England,  and  transported  the  press. 
It  was  in  the  possession  of  a  Mr.  Day,  a  short  lime, 
but  soon  passed  into  the  hands  of  Mr.  Green.  In 
1639-40,  he  published  an  almanac  for  New  Eng- 
land, prepared  by  Captain  Pierce,  a  skHful  navi- 
gator ;  the  freeman's  oath ;  and  a  version  of  the 
psalms  of  David.  The  name  of  Samuel  Green  ap- 
pears as  the  printer  of  all  of  them.  It  was  necessary 
at  that  time,  to  have  a  license  from  the  civil  author- 
ity for  printing'  and  publishing  any  book  or  pam- 
phlet. The  censors  of  the  press,  about  the  middle  of 
the  17th  century,  and  afterwards,  were  Rev.  Mr. 
Mitchell  of  Cambridge,  and  Major  Gookin,  a  magis- 
trate of  the  colony.  Eliot's  Indian  Bible  was  print- 
ed by  Green,  who  lived  to  a  great  age.  His  son  Bar- 
tholomew was  a  printer ;  and  several  of  his  posterity 
in  more  recent  times.  The  first  newspaper  issued  in 
Massachusetts,  or  in  New  England,  was  printed  by 
Bartholomew  Green,  in  1704. 

GREENE,  Gen.  NATHANIEL  an  officer  of  high 
rank  and  character,  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  was 
a  native  of  Warwick,  in  Rhode  Island.  His  father 
was  the  proprietor  of  large  iron  works  in  that  town  ; 
and  the  son  labored  in  the  business  a  portion  of  his 
time.  He  had  only  a  common  education ;  but 
having  a  literary  taste,  he  studied  the  Latin  lan- 
guage, read  good  English  authors :  in  which,  it  ap- 
pears, he  acted  of  his  own  voluntary  purpose  and 
choice.  He  thus  became  distinguished  among  his 
contemporaries,  in  early  manhood ;  and  when  quite 
a  young  man,  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  legislative 
assembly.  THis  was  only  a  few  years  before  the 
war  commenced.  On  the  intelligence  of  the  affair  at 
Concord  and  Lexington,  in  Massachusetts,  April  19, 


Ll 


NATBANnCL  ORIllfK. 


209 


1775,  he  repaired  to  Cambridge,  the  place  of  ren- 
desvous  of  the  militia  of  Massachusetts  and  other 
New  England  provinces,  with  three  regiments  from 
Rhode  Island.  The  parents  of  Mr.  Greene  were  of  the 
Societjr  of  Friends  ;  but  this  did  not  prevent  him  in 
joining  his  fellow  citizens  in  defence  of  civil  liberty. 
A  portion  of  that  respectable  sect  of  Christians  were 
in  favor  of  a  defensive  war,  like  that  in  which  the 
people  of  the  British  colonies  in  America  then  en- 
gaged, for  the  support  of  their  natural  and  charter 
rights.  But  the  Quakers,  generally,  are  opposed  to 
war  of  every  kind  and  for  any  purpose  whatever. 
General  Greene  was  an  active  officer  in  organizing 
the  militia  in  1775;  and  in  1776,  he  received  a  com- 
mission from  the  Continental  Congress,  no  doubt 
by  the  recommendation  of  Washington,  then  com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  American  army,  as  a  Major- 
General.  He  always  enjoyed  the  esteem  and  confi- 
dence of  General  VVashington,  not  only  as  a  brave 
officer,  but  as  a  man  of  comprehensive  views  and  of 
excellent  judgment.  It  has  been  reported,  that 
Washington  designated  in  his  own  mind,  the  com- 
mand of  the  army  to  General  Greene,  if  by  any 
event  there  should  be  a  vacancy.  This  could  have 
been  merely  intimated,  and  that  to  his  most  confi- 
dential friends.  Major-General  Benjamin  Lincoln, 
of  Massachusetts,  it  was  believed,  stood  next  highest 
in  the  opinion  of  Washington,  as  a  suitable  character 
for  that  responsible  station.  General  Greene  was  in 
the  engagement  at  Trenton,  December  1776,  and  at 
Princeton,  Jauiiary  1777,  when  great  advantages  oc- 
curred to  the  American  arms,  under  the  skilful  di- 
.  rection  and  personal  command  of  Washington ;  and 
at  a  time  of  great  anxiety  and  gloom  in  the  country : 
and  afforded  prompt  and  efficient  support  to  the 
commander-in-chief.  The  attack  on  the  British 
forces,  at  that  time,  when  they  were  very  numerous, 
and  the  American  troops  but  few,  was  by  some 
18  • 


„ 


lit-  I 


!  i 


310 


NATHANIEL    OBIINB. 


deemed  rash  and  desperate.  But  it  was  necessary 
that  a  great  effort  should  be  made  to  annoy  the  ene- 
my, and  to  raise  the  drooping  spirits  of  the  country. 
In  the  battle  of  Qermantown,  October  1777,  General 
Greene  had  command  of  the  left  wing  of  the  army. 
The  following  year  he  was  appointed  Quartermas- 
ter-General ;  but  still  retained  his  former  rank  in  the 
army  ;  and  he  was  in  that  capacity  in  the  battle  of 
Monmouth,  June  1778,  when  his  prompt  services  con- 
tributed to  the  successes  of  that  memorable  day.  In 
AugUMt  of  that  year,  he,  with  Lafayette,  command- 
ed the  troops  on  Rhode  Island,  collected  to  drive  the 
British  from  Newport. — After  the  great  disasters  in 
South  Carolina  and  Georgia,  in  the  latter  part  of 
1779,  and  beginning  of  1780,  General  Greene  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  military  command  in  that  part  of 
the  country  :  and  though  a  long  possession  by  the 
British  troops  had  exhausted  its  resources,  and 
subdued  the  people  in  various  parts,  he  soon  revived 
their  spirits  and  hopes,  by  his  promptness  and  ener- 
gy, and- gave  a  new  face  to  affairs  in  that  territory. 
The  enemy,  before  deemed  altogether  powerful,  were 
effectually  checked  in  many  places ;  and  the  Amer- 
ican troops,  now  well  organized,  presented  a  formi- 
dable obstacle  to  their  advances.  The  efforts  of  Gen- 
eral Greene,  at  this  period,  though  not  sufficient  to 
conquer  the  British  troops,  or  to  rescue  the  country 
from  their  occupancy,  prepared  the  way  for  their  more 
effectual  discomfiture  afterwards,  and  for  their  cap- 
ture, under  Lord  Corawallis,  the  following  year. 
Soon  after  the  close  of  the  war.  General  Greene 
settled  in  the  State  of  Georgia :  but  survived  only 
one  or  two  years ;  his  health  having  become  much 
enfeebled  by  his  great  exposure  and  sufferings  in  the 
camp.  In  one  of  his  letters,  he  says,  "  I  was  seven 
months  in  the  field,  without  taking  off  my  clothes  for 
a  single  night."  He  died  in  1786,  at  the  age  of  for- 
ty-six.    His  services  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution, 


BKNJAMIN  OBBBNLIAP. 


211 


like  those  of  Washington,  it  is  difiicult  fully  to  ap- 
preciate. 

GREENLEAF,  Hon.  BENJAMIN  was  born  in 
Newburyport,  and  graduated  at  Harvard  College, 
in  the  year  1751.  At  an  early  period  of  the  Revo- 
lutionary contest,  he  became  decided  and  active  in 
f  tpport  of  civil  liberty,  and  the  rights  of  the  Colo- 
nies. The  Oritish  administration  asserted  a  power 
over  the  Colonies,  which  had  never  been  before  ex- 
ercised, anit  its  policy  was  arbitrary  in  the  extreme ; 
claiming  a  right  to  bind  the  people  here,  in  all  cases 
whatever.  Such  claims  had  never  been  admitted  in 
the  Colonies.  Though  always  a  truly  loyal  people, 
they  contended  for  civil  rights  and  civil  power,  fully 
equal  to  those  enjoyed  in  England — to  make  all  laws 
for  their  internal  affairs ;  especially  to  impose  and 
collect  all  taxes,  and  to  appropriate  them  by  their 
own  Representatives.  The  opposition  and  remon- 
strances to  this  assumption  of  power  by  the  British 
Parliament,  \yere  very  general ;  only  a  few  officers 
of  the  parent  government  approved  or  acquiesced. — 
Mr.  Greenleaf  was  a  Representative  to  the  General 
Court,  from  Newburyport,  several  years  before  the 
war  began,  where  his  name  appears  associated  with 
those  of  Bowdoin,  Adams,  and  Hawley,  who  pre- 
pared some  important  State  papers,  in  1770  and  1771. 
In  October  1774,  Mr.  Greenleaf  was  chosen  to  act  as 
one  of  the  Executive  Council,  as  the  counsellors 
appointed  by  the  crown  were  not  recognised  by  the 
Provincial  Congress.  Richard  Derby,  Jr.  Esq.  of 
Salem,  was  also  elected  to  the  council,  from  Essex 
County  at  the  same  time.  In  1774  and  1775,  these 
gentlemen,  with  Colonel  Azor  Orne  and  Dr.  Samuel 
Uolten,  were  members  of  the  Committee  of  Safety 
for  the  Province.  This  was  an  efficient  body  at 
that  alarming  period,  in  proposing  measures  for  the 
public  defence  and  welfare.    Hon.  John  Hancock 


212 


JEREMIAH   ORIDLET. 


was  the  first  chairman  of  that  committee,  and  Gen- 
eral Joseph  Warren,  who  fell  in  the  Battle  of 
Bunker  Hill,  was  the  second.  Mr.  (ireenleaf  was 
again  chosen  a  member  of  the  Supreme  Executive 
Council,  in  1775  and  1776,  and  was  afterwards  ap- 
pointed a  judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  for 
^ssex  County.  He  remained  a  justice  of  that  court 
several  years ;  and  died  at  an  advanced  age. 

Jonathan  Greenleaf,  was  also  a  decided  and 
active  patriot ,  and  was  often  called  to  the  public 
service,  at  this  critical  period ;  being  a  delegate  to 
the  Essex  Convention,  September  1774,  and  to  the 
Provincial  Congresses  of  Massachusetts,  October 
1774,  and  April  and  May  1775.  Colonel  Greenleaf 
continued  in  public  life  several  years  after  the  war 
began,  and  had  a  large  share  of  influence  with  his 
colleagues.  He  was  one  of  the  most  courteous  and 
accomplished  men  of  his  day. 

GRIDLEY,  JEREMIAH  Esq.  was  an  eminent 
attorney  and  barrister  in  Boston,  many  years.  He 
received  his  public  education  in  Harvard  College, 
and  was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1725.  For  a 
short  time,  about  1731,  he  edited  a  newspaper  in 
Boston,  called  the  Rehearsal.  It  contained  essays 
on  various  subjects,  as  well  as  paragraphs  of  late 
intelligence ;  and  was  conducted  with  ability.  Mr. 
Gridley  held  the  office  of  Attorney-General  for  the 
Province  of  Massachusetts,  a  short  time,  in  1767, 
and  died  the  same  year.  Several  distinguished  law- 
yers of  the  province  studied  with  Mr.  Gridley.*  He 
was  also  a  Colonel  of  the  first  regiment  of  militia  in 
the  county  of  Suffolk,  when  it  was  considered  im- 
portant to  have  men  of  talents  in  that  station.  Mr. 
Gridley  was  a  teacher  of  youth  for  about  two  years 
after  he  left  college.  He  was  a  very  good  classical 
scholar,  and  a  man  of  extensive  learning.  As  an 
attorney  he  was  opposed  to  Otis  and  other  eminent 


R.  OBIDLEY — R.    ORISWOLD. 


213 


lawyers ;  but  always  sustained  his  cause  with  great 
power.  He  died  in  1767,  in  full  faith  of  the  truth  of 
the  Christian  religion,  and  in  hope  of  a  glorious  im- 
mortality. 

GRIDLEY,  CoL.  RICHARD  was  an  eminent 
engineer,  and  commanded  the  first  regiment  of  artil- 
lery in  'Massachusetts,  when  the  war  of  the  Rev- 
olution began  ;  indeed,  it  was  the  only  artillery 
regiment  in  the  province  in  the  early  part  of  the 
year  1775  ;  and  it  was  with  no  little  difficulty 
cannon  could  be  procured  for  even  one  regiment. — 
Colonel  Gridley  had  the  appointment  of  chief  engi- 
neer in  April  1775,  from  the  Provincial  Congress, 
and  was  requested  to  select  proper  persons  for  offi- 
cers in  the  regiment  which  he  was  to  command. — 
William  Burbeck  was  soon  after  commissioned  as 
Lieutenant  Colonel,  David  Mason  as  first  Major,  and 
Scarborough  Gridley  as  second  Major.  Scarborough 
Gridley  was  a  son  of  Richard. 

GRISWOLD,  Hon.  ROGER  was  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut, and  received  his  public  education  in  Yale 
College  with  the  class  of  1780.  In  1811,  when  he 
was  Governor  of  that  Commonwealth,  he  received 
the  honorary  degree  of  L  L  D.  from  Harvard  Uni- 
versity. Mr  Griswold  was  a  lawyer  by  profession, 
but  early  entered  the  unprofitable  field  of  politics  : 
and  so  highly  were  his  abilities  estimated  by  the 
people  of  his  State,  that  he  was  called  to  some  pub- 
lic station,  during  the  ^greater  part  of  his  life.  A 
true  patriot  who  is  not  very  ambitious  of  political 
distinction,  will  feel  obliged  to  obey  the  call  of  his 
fellow  citizens,  except  in  cases  where  the  conditions 
of  his  family  and  his  private  concerns  make  it  im- 
proper for  him  to  neglect  them,  by  giving  his  whole 
time  to  the  public.  Mr.  Griswold  was  several  years 
a  member  of  the  national  legislature ;  first  in   the 


214 


MATTHBW  ORISWOLD. 


K    I 


House  of  Representatives,  and  then  in  the  Senate : 
and  for  good  judgment,  political  wisdom  and  power- 
ful argument,  he  had  few  equals  in  either  branch  of 
the  federal  government.  Uriah  Tracy  and  J.  A. 
Hillhouse  were  Senators  of  the  United  States,  from 
Connecticut,  a  part  of  the  time  with  Mr.  Griswold. 
And  they  also  were  statesmen  of  great  ability  and 
influence.  They  were  all  of  the  Washington  school 
of  politicians.  He  was  Governor  of  Connecticut  two 
years ;  and  died  in  1812,  while  in  that  office. 

GRISWOLD,  Hon.  MATTHEW  was  Lieutenant 
Governor  of  Connecticut  several  years,  while  Trum- 
bull was  Governor  in  Chief;  and  afterwards,  was 
chief  magistrate  in  1784,  and  1785  ;  having  suc- 
ceeded Governor  Trumbull.  Governor  Griswold 
war  president  of  the  convention  in  Connecticut,  in 
January  1788,  which  was  held  to  consider  and  decide 
on  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution  of  the  Uniled 
States,  formed  by  the  national  convention  at  Phila- 
delphia, in  1787.  Connecticut  was  the  fifth  State 
by  which  the  federal  constitution  was  accepted.  It 
was  adopted  by  Massachusetts  soon  after,  February 
1788.  Governor  Griswold  had  a  high  character  for 
political  integrity;  and  his  patriotism  and  his  love 
of  civil  liberty  were  fully  evinced  by  his  public 
services  from  1770  to  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary- 
war.  He  was  an  able  supporter  of  the  wise  meas- 
ures of  Governor  Trumbull  during  that  eventful 
period.  And  Connecticut  was  always  found  true  to 
herself,  and  to  the  great  cause  in  which  all  the  colo- 
nies were  then  engaged.  For  several  generations, 
individuals  of  the  Griswold  family  have  held  high 
stations  in  the  Commonwealth  of  Connecticut ;  and 
shared  largely  in  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  their 
fellow  citizens. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


H 


HANCOCK,  Hon.  JOHN  L  L.  D.  was  a  native 
of  Braintrce,  now  Quincy,  where  his  father  was  an 
ordained  Congregational  minister ;  and  received  his 
public  education  in  Harvard  College.  He  was  grad- 
uated in  the  year  1754,  at  the  early  age  of  sixteen. 
His  uncle,  Thomas  Hancock,  a  rich  merchant  of 
Boston,  took  him  into  his  counting  room,  on  his 
leaving  college,  where  he  had  a  rare  opportunity  of 
acquiring  a  knowledge  of  mercantile  business  and 
pursuits ;  as  great  as  might  have  been  attained  with 
any  merchant  in  the  country.  The  uncle  died  while 
Mr.  Hancock  was  a  young  man,  and  bequeathed 
him  a  great  portion  of  his  large  estate ;  for  he  had 
no  children.  Mr.  Hancock  was  uncommonly  rich 
for  that  period,  both  in  navigation  and  real  estate. 
He  had  a  fine  person  and  courteous*  manners  ;  and 
was  one  of  the  most  popular  men  of  his  day,  at  the 
age  of  twenty -five,  thirty,  and  thirty-five.  The 
British  officers  and  agents  courted  him  ;  for  he  had 
great  influence.  Office  was  tendered  him,  but  he 
refused  it.  And  when  his  decision  was  fully  appar- 
ent in  favor  of  civil  liberty  and  the  rights  of  the  col- 
ony, the  agents  of  the  royal  cause  became  inveterate 
against  him,  and  pursued  him  with  more  malice  and 
revenge  than  they  did  most  other  whigs.  When  par- 
don was  ofiered,  in  April  1776,  by  General  Gage,  to 
all  who  would  submit  to  British  authority,  and  re* 


216 


JOHN    HANCOCK. 


turn  to  their  allegiance  to  the  parent  government  in 
England,  John  Hancock  and  Samuel  Adams  were 
excepted  from  the  general  amnesty.  Before  the 
war  began,  Mr.  Hancock  was  chosen  a  Represent- 
ative from  Boston  for  several  years ;  and  was  also 
elected  a  Counsellor,  but  received  the  negative  of  the 
Governor.  On  one  occasion  he  was  chosen  Speaker 
of  the  House  ;  but  in  that  case  also  the  Governor  in- 
terposed his  negative  to  the  election  of  the  Representa- 
tives.— When  a  Provincial  Congress  was  convened 
at  Salem,  in  October  1774,  whence  it  immediately 
adjourned  and  met  at  Concord,  Mr.  Hancock  was 
one  of  the  six  delegates  from  Boston,  and  was  chosen 
the  President.  He  was  a  member  and  President  of 
the  second  Provincial  Congress  of  Massachusetts 
which  met  at  Cambridge,  in  February  1776.  Be- 
fore the  third  Provincial  Congress  convened,  May 
1776,  Mr.  Hancock  was  appointed  a  Delegate  from 
Massachusetts  to  the  second  Continental  Congress 
then  assembled  in  Philadelphia.  On  his  return  how- 
ever, from  that  Congress,  in  the  summer  of  1776,  for 
some  time  he  had  a  seat  in  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress ;  and  was  also  a  member,  and  the  president  of 
the  committee  of  safety,  chosen  in  Massachusetts,  in 
November  1774,  and  again  in  May  1775. 

On  the  death  of  Mr.  Randolph  of  Virginia  in  1776, 
Mr.  Hancock  was  elected  President  of  the  Continen- 
tal Congress;  and  held  that  place,  when  the  solemn 
Declaration  of  Independence  was  made  by  that 
august  assembly,  on  the  fourth  of  July  1776.  His 
name  is  first  on  that  precious  list  of  patriots,  wise 
and  virtuous,  who  asserted  the  politcal  rights  and 
liberties  of  three  millions  of  freemen,  spread  over 
thirteen  States  or  Provinces,  in  opposition  to  the 
power  of  Great  Britain,  and  at  the  risk  of  her  high 
resentment  and  tyrannical  vengeance.  The  danger 
was  great ;  the  prospect  was  obscured  by  alarming 
apprehensions  ;  but  the  course  appeared  necessary ; 


THADDIU8  M.   BABRI8. 


217 


ment  in 
tns  were 
fore  the 
epresent- 
was  also 
five  of  the 

I  Speaker 
vernor  iu- 
jpresenta- 
convened 
mediately 
icock  was 
IT  as  chosen 
resident  of 
jsachusetts 
1775.    Be- 
ened,  May 
egate  from 

II  Congress 
•eturn  how- 
,f  1775,  for 
incial  Con- 
iresident  of 
•husetts,  in 


the  duty  of  defending  and  preserving  the  civil  bless- 
ings so  long  enjoyed,  for  posterity,  was  believed  to  be 
imperative.  The  only  alternative  was  independence 
or  submission  to  all  the  acts,  however  arbitrary  and 
oppressive,  of  a  foreign  government,  in  which  the 
people  in  the  colonies  were  not  represented.  No  in- 
dividual in  the  United  States  made  greater  sacrifices 
than  Mr.  Hancock  in  support  of  the  cause  of  the 
rights  of  the  colonists,  in  1775 :  very  few  indeed, 
made  as  great.  He  put  at  hazard  his  immense  es- 
tates.— His  property  in  Boston  was  yery  great ;  but 
he  readily  exposed  it  to  loss  for  the  public  good  ;  re- 
questing Washington,  in  the  winter  of  1775-76,  not 
to  withhold  his  hand  from  the  destruction  of  real  es- 
tate in  Boston,  if  he  could  thereby  drive  the  British 
army  from  the  province.  In  1780,  Mr.  Han- 
cock was  chosen  governor  of  Massachusetts,  on  the 
adoption  of  the  State  Constitution  at  that  time.  He 
was  also  annually  elected  chief  magistrate  until  his 
death  in  1793,  except  for  two  years,  when  Mr.  Bow- 
doin  was  chosen;  being  the  years  1785  and  1786. 
Mr.  Hancock  left  no  children ;  he  had  one  son  who 
died  at  the  age  of  fourteen.  He  had  the  character  of 
a  generous  man,  being  kind  to  the  poor,  especially  to 
the  clergy,  who  in  his  time  suffered  much  by  the  de- 
preciation of  paper  money. — But  he  was  charged 
with  undue  negligence  in  paying  small  debts  which 
he  owed  to  the  mechanics.  Not  that  he  was  reputed 
dishonest  or  unjust ;  but  careless  of  attending  prompt- 
ly to  the  demands  of  small  creditors.  Public  duties 
and  services  might  sometimes,  perhaps,  be  pleaded  as 
an  excuse  for  such  inattention.  But  a  public  man,  or 
one  eminent  for  his  public  services,  may  not  justly 
neglect  his  more  private  duties  and  obligations. 

HARRIS,  Rev.  THADDEUS  M.  D.  D.  was  born 
in  Charlestown,  near  Boston,  and  received  his  educa- 
tion in  Harvard  College ;  where  he  had  a  degree  in  the 
19 


ir^T- 


I  I- 


! 


r* 


218 


THADDBUS  M.  HA1II8. 


year  1787.  When  Charlestown  was  burnt  by  the 
British  troops,  on  the  17th  of  June,  1775,  the  parents 
and  family  of  Mr.  Harris  fled  from  the  town,  wholly 
destitute  even  of  comfortable  clothing,  excepting  what 
they  usually  wore.  They  had  not  time  to  take  any- 
thing with  them.  -  Y^ung  Harris  W9fl  then  between 
eight  and  nine  yeari^  of  age.  The  family  sufiiered 
much,  and  he  with  them.  He  had  always  a  taste  for^ 
reading  and  study ;  and  when  he  could  find  oppor- 
tunity he  was  devoted  to  books.  He  was  desirous  of  a 
literary  education,  and  his  parents  resolved,  if  it  were 
possible,  to  give  him  one,  but  they  had  little  hope  of 
accomplishing  their  purposes.  He,  however,  was 
studious ;  and  trusting  to  Providence,  they  favored 
his  wishes;  and  when  he  was  fifteen,  they  entered 
him  a  student  of  the  college,  and  found  friends  to 
assist  in  hU  education  there.  Thomas  Russell, 
then  an  emment  merchant  of  Boston,  but  a  native 
of  Charlestown,  generously  contributed  funds  for 
the  purpose :  for  he  had  witnessed  or  heard  of  the 
studious  habits  and  moral  worth  of  Mr.  Harris. 
Soon  after  leaving  college,  where  he  made  very 
commendable  proficiency  in  learning,  Mr.  Harris 
made  choice  of  theology,  as  a  professional  study ; 
and  after  three  years  began  to  preach  occasionally. 
In  the  meantime  he  was  elected  librarian  of  the  col- 
lege ;  and  being  young  and  not  desirous  of  an  imme- 
diate settlement  in  the  ministry,  he  continued  several 
years  in  that  station.  And  here  ho  had  an  oppor- 
tunity, which  he  carefully  improved,  of  obtaining  a 
correct  knowledge  of  most  works  in  theology  and 
ecclesiastical  history,  as  well  as  on  subjects  of  gen- 
eral literature.  He  was  early  chosen  a  member  of 
the  Historical  Society  ;  and  assisted  Dr.  Belknap, 
the  founder  of  that  society,  in  collecting  and  classi- 
fying the  volumes  and  pamphlets  which  composed 
its  library,  for  the  first  three  or  four  years.  In  1793, 
Dr.   Harris  was  ordained  over  the  Congregational 


WILLIAM  B4TB0BNB. 


219 


Church  and  Society  in  Dorchester.  He  continued  the 

Eastor  of  that  church  until  the  feeble  state  of  his 
ealth,  in  1S39,  obliged  him  to  relinquish  the  com- 
mon labors  of  the  pulpit,  and  ask  for  a  dismission. 
With  reluctance  on  the  part  of  the  people,  this  was 
granted;  but  they  continued  to  cherish  strong  feel- 
ings of  regard  and  friendship  for  him,  while  he  lived : 
And  at  their  request  several  times  preached  to  them 
in  public.  Dr.  Harris  died  the  third  of  April  1842, 
after  a  short  illness,  but  he  had  enjoyed  little  health 
for  several  years.  He  was  a  good  scholar,  and  a  la- 
borious student.  He  published  several  sermons,  all 
which  discover  good  taste  and  judgment,  and  a  de- 
sire to  be  useful,  and  to  spread  important  informa- 
tion in  the  community.  His  "  natural  history  of  the 
bible"  is  an  ingenious  work,  and  has  passed 
through  several  editions,  both  in  England  and 
America.  He  published  a  volume  of  travels  in  the 
Western  States,  several  years  before  his  death,  which 
was  entertaining  and  descriptive  of  the  then  newly 
settled  regions  of  the  "far  west."  His  life  of  Gen- 
eral Oglethorpe,  published  about  a  year  l)efore  his 
death,  discovers  great  research,  and  is  honorable  to 
his  taste  and  ability  as  a  literary  man. 

HATHORNE,  WILLIAM  Esq.  was  a  citizen  of 
Salem  during  the  half  part  of  his  life.  He  removed 
to  this  ancient  town  from  Dorchester  in  1636.  He 
was  then  a  man  of  distinction  ;  for  it  was  considered 
a  public  benefit  by  the  people  of  Salem  that  he  should 
become  an  inhabitant  of  the  town.  They  noticed 
and  rewarded  him,  giving  him,  successively  for 
several  years,  the  most  important  offices  they  could 
bestow.  He  was  a  leading  man  in  the  church,  when 
Rev.  John  Higginson,  son  of  their  first  minister,  Mr. 
Francis  Higgiison,  was  installed  as  pastor  of  the 
chuirch  in  1660.  "  Brother  Major  William  Hathorne, 
uri^h  the  4e9con3,  imposed  hands,  in  presence  of  the 


220 


WILLUM  HATHORNB. 


i 


1 


neighboring  churches  and  elders :  and  Rev.  Mr.  Nor- 
ton of  Boston,  gave  the  fellowship  of  the  churches." 
Major  Hathorne  held  civil  office  in  the  colony  on  vari- 
ous occasions.  In  1645,  with  Lieutenant  Governor 
Dudley  and  Major  Daniel  Denison,  he  was  an  agent 
from  Massachusetts,  to  treat  with  D'Aulney,  a 
Frenchman  at  St.  Croix,  acting  under  the  authority 
of  the  King  of  France,  and  claiming  territory  in 
L' Acadie  or  Nova  Scotia,  within  the  bounds  of  New 
England.  In  1651,  he  was  an  agent  with  Mr.  Brad- 
street  and  Major  Denison,  to  treat  with  persons -on 
the  east  side  of  Piscataqua,  in  Maine,  who  had  re- 
quested to  come  under  the  government  of  Massa- 
chusetts. Major  Hathorne  was  a  deputy  from  Salem 
to  the  General  Court  for  several  years  ;  the  first 
Speaker,  and  held  that  station  until  1662.  He  was 
also  one  of  the  board  of  assistants,  and  commanded 
a  regiment  of  the  militia  in  Salem  and  vicinity.  Mr. 
Hathotne  ranked  with  the  most  zealous  friends  of 
liberty  and  charter  rights  of  his  time.  In  1664, 
Charles  II,  sent  over  Commissioners  to  sit  as  a  court 
of  appeals  in  Massachusetts,  who  were  to  control  or 
annul,  as  they  might  choose,  the  decisions  of  the  reg- 
ular judicial  courts,  and  the  laws  of  the  General 
Court  of  the  Colony.  Some  good  but  timid  men 
were  willing  to  submit — But  the  majority  opposed 
and  refused  submission  to  their  authority.  Hath- 
orne was  one  of  the  "brave  spirits."  Some  of  the 
others  were  Governor  Bellingham,  Thomas  Danforth, 
Simon  Bradstreet,  Daniel  Gookin,  Major  Leverett, 
Major  Willard,  and  Major  Lusher,  who  when  they 
took  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  king,  as  required,  de- 
clared, that  it  was  to  be  understood  as  not  infringing 
the  liberties  of  the  charter.  For  h.is  firm  opposition 
to  the  ambitrary  conduct  of  King  Charles  II,  and  his 
courtiers,  he  fell  under  the  special  resentment  of  that 
Prince.  In  1666,  Charles  ordered  Massachusetts  to 
send  over  to  England  five  of  their  principal  citizens 


NATBAmtL  A.   HAVEN. 


221 


to  ansirer  for  their  refusing  to  submit  to  the  authori- 
ty of  the  commissioners  ;  of  which  Mr.  BeUingham 
and  Mr.  Hathorne  should  be  two.  On  the  great 
question,  moved  at  that  and  other  periods,  of  the  na- 
ture and  extent  of  the  royal  prerogative,  he  contend- 
ed that  prerogative  was  not  against  law  nor  above 
law,  but  Umited  and-  defined  by  it ;  the  law  declar* 
ing  in  what  cases  prerogative  is  to  take  place.  Mr. 
Hathorne  died  in  1681,  probably  not  far  from  eighty 
years  of  age. 

HAVEN,  NATHANIEL  APPLETON  was  born 
in  Portsmouth,  State  of  New  Hampshire,  and  of  a 
very  respectable  family  in  that  ancient  town.  He 
received  his  public  education  in  Harvard  College, 
where  he  took  his  first  degree  in  1807.  After  a  year 
passed  in  Exeter  Academy  as  an  instructor,  he  en* 
gaged  in  the  profession  of  law ;  and  had  the  reputa- 
tion of  an  honorable  and  able  lawyer,  with  all  who 
had  intercourse  with  him.  But  it  would  not  be 
doing  full  justice  to  the  character  of  Mr.  Haven  to 
say,  that  he  was  just  and  honest,  or  passed  with 
men  of  the  world  as  a  moral  man,  in  the  common 
acceptation  of  the  phrase.  He  was  not  only  free 
from  gross  and  dishonorable  vices;  he  cherished 
truly  benevolent  feelings,  and  was  desirous  of  aiding, 
by  all  proper  means,  in  improving  the  condition  of 
his  fellow  men. '  He  was  a  religious  man  ;  and  his 
faith  and  principles  as  a  Christian,  led  him  to  be  ac- 
tive and  forward  in  the  good  work  of  human  im- 
provement. He  evidently  considered  it  a  duty  to 
consult  and  labor,  for  promoting  the  moral  and 
spiritual  welfare  of  others.  He,  therefore,  joined 
several  societies  instituted  for  sustaining  and  ad- 
vancing the  cause  of  true  religion  and'  human  hap- 
piness. On  all  occasions,  his  influence  was  cheer- 
fully given  to  accomplish  these  high  purposes  and 
objects.  He  was  an  efficient  and  successful  teacher 
19  ♦      . 


l! 


n 


1^ 


232 


JOSIPH    BAWLBT. 


in  Sunday  schools,  which  have  contributed  so  much, 
in  the  present  age,  to  the  literary  and  moral  benefit 
of  the  rising  generation.  In  these  labors  of  mety 
and  benevolence,  he  was  often  a  coadjutor  with  nev. 
Dr.  Nathan  Parker,  a  kindred  spirit,  and  an  angel  of 
mercy  and  of  love  to  many  an  ignorant,  heavy  laden 
sinner.  Mr.  Haven  published  several  orations  de- 
livered on  public  occasions;  and  essays  in  the 
periodicals  of  his  time  on  various  subjects,  chiefly 
political.  He  may  justly  be  considered  a  literary 
character,  and  an  enlightened  philanthropist.  The 
memory  of  such  men  as  Haven  and  Qallison, 
should  be  held  precious  by  their  survivors.  Mr. 
Haven  died  in  1827,  at  the  age  of  thirty-six. 

HAWLEY,  Hon.  JOSEPH  may  justly  be  placed 
in  the  first  class  of  patriots,  who  zealously  and  al'.'iv 
remonstrated  against  British  aggression  in  the 
memorable  period  of  1770-1775.  He  received  his 
education  in  Yale  College,  and  was  graduated  in 
the  year  1742.  The  profession  of  law  was  his 
choice,  and  he  practised  in  the  County  of  Hamp- 
shire, many  years,  with  distinguished  reputation. 
Like  James  Otis,  he  was  ardent,  and  sometimes  pre- 
cipitate; but  he  did  not  act  or  decide  without  a  good 
degree  of  examination  and  inquiry.  He  easily  per- 
ceived the  right  course,  and  was  not  slow  to  pursue 
it.  He  might  be  said  to  be  bold,  rather  than  rash : ' 
and  independent  rather  than  desperate.  He  was 
one  of  the  first  who  openly  declared,  that  "  we 
should  be  obliged  to  defend  our  rights  by  force,  if  we 
would  maintain  them ;  and  that  if  we  would  pre- 
serve our  liberty  we  must  fight  for  it."  He  was  in 
the  General  Court  several  years  before  the  Revolu- 
tionary war  began  :  and  a  member  of  all  the  import- 
ant committees  appointed  in  that  alarming  period. 
These  committees  were  very  generally  composed  of 
James  Otis,  Jr.,  Samuel  Adams,  Joseph  Hawley,  and 


JOHN    HAYNE8. 


223 


nuch, 

»enefit 

mety 

agel  of 
laden 
ns  de- 
in  the 
chiefly 
iterary 
.  The 
allison, 
.     Mr. 


t  placed 
[id  at'.'iv 
in    the 
ved  his 
ated  in 
VM  his 
Hamp- 
lUtation. 
jCS  pre- 
t  a  good 
ily  per- 
pursue 
in  rash:' 
e  was 
,t   "  we 
ic,  if  we 
\d  pre- 
was  in 
Revolu- 
impcHTt- 
period. 
iposed  of 
ley,  and 


two  or  three  others,  —  as  Samnel  Dexter,  James 
Bowdoin,  John  Hancock,  John  Adams.  He  was 
often  chairman  of  the  committee,  and  sometimes 
prepared  the  resolves  offered :  though  James  Otis 
and  Samuel  Adams  were  more  frequently  the  writers 
of  the  resolutions  reported  and  adopted. — Mr.  Haw- 
ley  was  one  of  the. committee  in  1770,  to  correspond 
with  other  Provinces.  He  was  chairman  of  the 
committee  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  in  October 
1774,  to  consider  the  state  of  the  country,  d&c, 
which  was  a  very  important  one ;  for  the  measures 
to  be  adopted,  would  be  such  as  they  should  pro- 
pose. To  the  other  two  Provincial  Congresses,  ii^ 
February  1776,  and  May  1776,  he  was  also  returned 
a  delegate ;  and  had  the  character  of  one  of  the 
most  useful  members.  He  early  perceived  the  im- 
portance of  taking  possession  of  the  old  British  forts 
on  lake  Champlain ;  and  advised  to  send  men  to 
seize  the  cannon  deposited  there.  He  continued  in 
the  General  Court,  several  years  after  1776 ;  and 
until  his  infirm  health  rendered  it  proper  for  him  to 
retire  from  public  life.  In  the  time  of  the  insurrec- 
tion, in  1786,  however,  he  raised  his  patriotic  voice 
in  favor  of  government  and  law,  and  decidedly  op- 
posed the  mad  schemes  of  the  disorganizers  who  at- 
tempted to  prevent  the  regular  course  of  justice  and 
of  constitutional  authority.  In  his  old  age,  he  dis- 
covered a  very  religious  and  devout  spirit;  and  died 
in  strong  faith  of  the  Christian  revelation. 

HAYNES,  Hon.  JOHN  came  to  Massachusetts  in 
1633,  three  years  after  the  large  company  which 
came  with  Winthrop.  He  was  one  of  the  best  edu- 
cated men  who  early  settled  in  New  England.  The 
year  after  he  arrived,  he  was  elected  one  of  the 
Board  of  Assistants,  which  at  that  time  exercised 
most  of  the  authority,  legislative,  judicial,  and  ex- 
excutive,  in  the  Colony.     For  the  three  first  years,  a 


HI 


1 


22i 


LEMUEL  HATWAED. 


Hoase  of  Deputies  was  not  known.  The  charter  pro- 
Tided  that  the  whole  body  of  freemen,  or  memDers 
of  the  company,  should  meet  and  choose  the  Got- 
ernor,  Lieutenant  Governor  and  Assistants;  and 
they  did  little  more.  But  in  1634,  two  Deputies 
were  chosen  in  each  town  or  plantation,  then  consist- 
ing of  six ;  and  they  met,  not  only  to  assess  and  ap- 
portion a  tax,  but  also  to  act  with  the  Governor  and 
Assistants  in  making  the  laws.  In  1635,  Mr.  Haynea 
was  chosen  Governor — a  proof  of  his  eminence  and 
worth.  In  1636  he  removed  out  of  the  jurisdiction 
of  Massachusetts  Bay,  and  settled  at  Hartford,  with 
others  belonging  to  the  church  of  Rev.  Messrs.  Hook* 
er  and  Stone.  He  there  had  the  election  of  the  peo- 
.ple  for  Governor,  the  greater  portion  of  the  time,  till 
his  death,  in  1654.  He  belonged  to  the  puritanical 
school,  and  was  a  very  pious  character :  but  seems  to 
have  been  more  disposed  to  tolerate  men  of  diiTsrent 
opinions,  than  many  of  the  rulers  of  that  period.  He 
acquiesced  in  some  measure  in  the  views  of  Roger 
Williams,  and  was  willing  he  should  enjoy  his  opin- 
ions without  any  legal  restraint.  In  conversation  with 
that  eccentric  man,  he  said,  "  he  thought  God  might 
design  this  new  world  for  all  sorts  of  consciences." 
Few  were  so  learned  in  the  laws  of  England  as  Gov- 
ernor Haynes ;  probably  none  equal  to  him  in  this 
respect,  but  Winthrop  and  Bellingham. 

HAYWARD,  LEMUEL  M.  D.  was  a  native  of 
Braintree,  now  Quincy,  and  received  his  public 
education  in  Harvard  College,  with  the  class  of  1767. 
Dr.  Hayward  settled  in  Boston,  and  there  com- 
menced his  professional  career.  But  the  important 
dispute  with  England,  which  soon  after  occurred, 
abwrbed  all  other  concerns  ;  and  he,  with  other  sons 
of  Harvard  College,  engaged  warmly  in  the  contro- 
versy. The  number  of  those  who  were  engaged  in 
the  cabinet  or  the  field,  on  the  side  of  civil  liberty,  in 


WILLIAM    HBATH. 


226 


BTpro- 

>  GOT- 

;    and 
eputiet 
lonsist- 
ind  ap- 
lor  and 
Haynes 
ice  and 
sdiction 
•d,  with 
I.  Hook- 
thepeo- 
lirae,  till 
ritanical 
seems  to 
dii^srent 
riod.  He 
pf  Roger 
his  opin- 
tion  with 
od  might 
ciences." 
las  Gov- 
n  in  this 


native  of 
is  public 
;s  of  1767. 
ere  com- 
mpoTtant 
occurred, 
other  sons 
le  contro- 
ngaged  in 
liberty,  in 


1775,  who  had  been  educated'in  that  seminary  was 
not  less  than  one  hundred  and  forty.  Dr.  Hay  ward 
was  sometime  a  surgeon  in  the  military  department 
of  the  country.  And  when  peace  was  restored  in 
1783,  he  resumed  his  practice  as  a  physician  in  Bos- 
ton, which  was  extensive,  and  attended  to  by  him 
with  great  fidelity,  and  with  no  ordinary  suc- 
cess ;  especially  in  reference  to  the  small  pox,  which 
often  prevailed  iu  the  time  of  his  professional  prac- 
tice. Dr.  Hayward  was  an  original  member  of 
the  Massachusetts  Medical  Society ;  and  sometime 
one  of  the  executive  council  of  the  association.  As  a 
citizen  and  a  friend,  he  shared  largely  in  the  respect 
and  esteem  of  his  contemporaries.  He  survived  to 
the  age  of  seventy-two  years,  and  died  in  1821. 

HEATH,  Hon.  WILLIAM  a  respectabte  farmer, 
and  citizen  of  Roxbury,  engaged  with  great  zeal  in 
the  contest  for  civil  liberty  sometimo  before  the  war 
began.  He  was  an  active  member  of  tlie  General 
Court  from  1771  to  1774  ;  and  was  one  of  the  com- 
mittee for  corresponding  with  the  other  colonial  as- 
semblies, at  that  very  critical  -^oriod.  Mr.  Heath 
was  a  delegate  to  the  Provincial  Congre:;s  of  Massa- 
chusetts, in  October  1774,  and  in  February  1776. — 
He  early  discovered  traits  of  character,  which  qual- 
ified him  for  military  cm^^  nd.  In  October  1774, 
it  was  proposed  by  the  '  o>  ^ial  Congress  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, that  twenty  regiments  be  organized. 
Colonel  Heath  raised  anu  had  command  of  a  regi- 
ment in  the  course  of  a  few  months  from  that  time  ; 
and  nearly  the  whole  number  was  raised  before  May 
1775  :  The  affair  at  Lexington  and  Concord,  19th 
April,  hastened  the  completion  of  the  regiments. — 
In  that  month  twenty-two  regiments  were  full,  and 
three  others  which  were  partly  formed.  In  Decem- 
ber. I.  Thomas  and  Heath  were  appointed  Brigadier- 
Generals  :  in  June  1775,  they  were  appointed  to  the 


226 


MOSES   BEMMENWAY. 


I 


i 

I        I 

i 


same  office,  under  General  Washington,  by  the  Con- 
tinental Congress — Ward  and  Putnam  were  appoint- 
ed Major-Generais  at  the  same  time.  Heath  was 
also  chosen  Major-General  by  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress of  Massachusetts,  on  the  20th  June,  in  the  room 
of  Major-General  Joseph  Warren,  slain  on  Bunker 
Hill,  on  the  17th ;  and  a  few  days  before  Washing- 
ton took  the  chief  command  of  the  troops  at  Cam- 
bridge, on  the  third  of  July.  The  next  year  Heath 
received  a  commission  as  Major-General  in  the  Con- 
tinental army,  and  continued  in  the  military  service 
of  the  country  till  the  close  of  the  war,  in  1783. — 
Gen.  Heath  was  in  the  field,  April  19,  1775;  and 
rendered  great  service  in  pursuing  the  British  troops  in 
their  retreat  from  Concord  to  Boston.  After  the  war, 
Gen.  Heath  returned  to  his  farm ;  and,  as  did  most 
of  ihe  officers  of  the  Revolutionary  army,  attend- 
ed to  agricultural  pursuits  ;  while  others  engaged  in 
occupations  proper  for  gaining  subsistence  for  their 
families.  They  left  the  public  service  poor,  after 
seven  or  eight  years  ;  and  became  good  citizens, 
supporters  of  law  and  order  ;  and  thus  giving  a  glo- 
rious example  "  of  laying  down  arms  taken  up  for 
the  defence  of  the  country  and  its  liberties."  Gen- 
eral Heath  was  a  member  of  the  House  and  of  the 
Senate  some  years  after  the  war ;  and  was  also  sev- 
eral years  Judge  of  Probate  for  the  comity  of  Nor- 
folk, when  that  county  was  set  off  from  Suffolk,  in 
1793.  He  died  in  1814,  at  an  advanced  age,  being 
about  eighty.  With  many  of  the  officers  of  the  Rev- 
olutionary army,  he  considered  the  war  of  1812,  as 
unwise  and  improper,  not  being  necessary  for  the 
defe.'.ceof  the  liberties  or  independence  of  the  coun- 
try. ,He  never  lost  the  citizen  in  the  soldier  ;  and 
was  only  for  war,  for  the  defence  and  safety  of  the 
Republic. 


HEMMENWAY,  Rev.  MOSES  D.  D.  was  edu- 


JOSEPH  HEN8HAW. 


227 


le  Con- 
ppoint- 
ih  was 
al  Con- 
le  room 
Bunker 
ashing- 
t  Cam- 
r  Heath 
he  Con- 
scrvice 
1783.— 
'5;   and 
iroops  in 
the  war, 
iid  most 
,  attend- 
gaged  in 
for  their 
or,  after 
citizens, 
ng  a  glo- 
up  for 
Gen- 
d  of  the 
also  sev- 
of  Nor- 
Liffolk,  in 
ge,  being 
the  Rev- 
1812,  as 
for  the 
he  coun- 
ier ;  and 
y  of  the 


vsa  edu- 


cated in  Harvard  College,  and  received  his  degree 
in  the  year  1755.  He  afterwards  settled  in  the  town 
of  Wells,  Maine,  where  he  devoted  himself  to  the 
important  benevolent  work  of  the  Christian  ministry, 
with  remarkable  fidelity  and  prudence ;  ever  care- 
fully avoiding  vain  disputes  and  controversies  ;  but 
ready  to  defend  the  truths  of  revelation,  and  to  sup- 
port the  rights  of  the  congregational  churches.  He 
made  no  display  in  delivering  his  discourses;  but 
they  were  well  studied,  argumentative,  and  calcu- 
lated to  enlighten,  to  impress  and  to  improve.  His 
modesty  was  very  great;  and  equalled  only  by  his 
moral  worth  and  his  real  merit.  He  wrote  in  de- 
fence of  infant  baptism;  and  also  on  the  proper 
qualifications  of  church  members.  In  some  of  his 
publications  he  opposed  the  extreme  of  Calvinism; 
for  in  his  day,  that  system  was  so  explained  and 
pressed  by  a  few  theologians,  that  it  was  believed 
it  went  to  a  denial  of  the  moral  powers  of  men,  and 
represented  them  as  under  a  necessity  to  choose  and 
act  in  all  cases  precisely  as  they  did.  Dr.  Hcmmen- 
way.  Dr.  West,  and  others,  contended  for  a  liberty 
of  action,  and  for  freedom  of  the  will ;  so  that  it 
might  be  justly  said,  men  had  a  self-determining 
power  ;  but  not  to  such  an  extent  as  to  be  independ- 
ent of  divine  influence  and  aid.  Dr.  Hemmenway 
was  a  pattern  for  all  controversial  writers.  There 
was  no  bitterness  of  spirit,  no  disposition  to  misrep- 
resent, and  no  want  of  candor,  to  be  detected  in  any 
of  his  writings ;  and  he  evidently  contended  for  truth, 
and  not  for  victory.  Rev.  Daniel  Little  was  his  neigh- 
bor ;  and  two  more  apostolic  ministers,  or  who 
were  more  like  the  primitive  Christians,  in  their  uni- 
form conduct  and  conversation,  could  not  be  easily 
mentioned. 

HENSHAW,   Col.   JOSEPH  was  a  citizen  of 
Leicester,  and  received  his  public  education  in  Har- 


-    228 


WILLIAM   HENSHAW. 


vard  College  in  1748.  He  engaged  with  zeal  in  the 
cause  of  civil  liberty,  in  the  memorable  period  of 
1770,  and  afterwards.  When  a  convention  was  held 
in  the  county  of  Worcester,  August  1774,  he  had  a 
seat  therein  as  a  delegate  from  his  native  town  ;  and 
was  among  the  most  active  members  of  the  conven- 
tion. He  was  also  a  delegate  to  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress in  Massachusetts,  October  1774,  and  again 
in  February  1775,  where  he  acted  a  conspicuous 
part.  The  beginning  of  the  same  year  Mr.  Henshaw 
received  a  commission  as  a  Colonel,  with  authority 
to  raise  a  regiment  of  men.  But  he  was  not  suc- 
cessful in  his  efforts  to  raise  a  competent  number  of 
men  for  a  regiment ;  for  fifteen  regiments  had  then 
been  recently  organized,  and  some  of  them  were 
deficient  of  the  full  number  required :  though  in 
April  and  May  1775,  twenty-two  full  regiments 
were  raised  and  equipped.  Two  or  three  regi- 
ments had  then  been  organized  in  the  county  of 
Worcester.  Mr.  Henshaw  was  however  employed 
by  the  Provincial  Congress  on  important  business 
relating  to  the  public  welfare,  and  in  collecting  mil- 
itary stores  for  the  army  raised  at  that  time. 

HENSHAW,  Col.  WILLIAM  was  also  a  citizen 
of  Leicester,  and  one  of  the  delegates  from  that  town 
to  the  county  convention  held  at  Worcester  in  Au- 
gust 1774  :  and  he  acted  as  secretary  of  that  assem- 
bly. It  was  composed  of  two  of  the  most  respecta- 
ble citizens  of  every  town  in  the  county  ;  from  some 
towns  however  there  were  three,  and  from  a  few  but 
one  delegate.  In  the  Spring  of  1775,  when  the 
militia  were  organiz'jd  and  put  under  command  of 
General  Artemas  Ward,  Colonel  Henshaw  was  ap- 
pointed by  him  an-  Adjutant-General  of  that  ten^po- 
rary  army  :  Colonel  Samuel  Brewer,  was  also  co.n- 
missioned  as  Adjutant-General  about  the  same  time; 
his  department  being  at  Koxbury,  where  one  divis- 


STEPHEN  HIGOINSON. 


229 


I  the 
3d  of 
held 
ad  a 
,  and 
nven- 
Con- 
again 

CU0U8 

ishaw 
hoiity 

»t   8UC- 

aber  of 
d  then 
a  were 

ugh  in 
giments 

ee  regi- 
unty  of 
iployed 
^usiness 

Eng  mil- 


j  •!  r-i   .  »r*  _■  T  -  ii      i  . ,-  •    ,    I  •  -*>■'■'  ■.*-^  t-     *~it  - 

ion  of  the  American  troops  were  stationed,  under 
General  John  Thomas.  Brewer  was  proposed  by 
General  Thomas  for  that  office. 

HIGGINSON,  Hon.  STEPHEN  was  a  native  of 
Salem,  Massachusetts,  where  the  family  had  lived 
from  the  first  settlement  of  the  country,  in  1629.  A 
small  company  under  Endicot  first  landed  there  in 
Sept.  1628.  The  year  after  were  added  about  three 
hundred  and  twenty  ;  among  which  were  Rev.  Mr. 
Higginson,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Skelton.  Mr.  Higginson 
died  in  1630, — and  a  son  of  his  was  afterwards 
pastor  of  the  Salem  Church,  and  lived  to  a  great 
age,  ninety-four.  Stephen  Higginson  was  a  de- 
scendant of  the  last  named,  and  of  the  fourth  gen- 
eration from  him.  He  early  engaged  in  commerce 
and  navigation ;  and  being  of  an  actiye,  eoflrprising 
spirit,  soon  became  eminent  as  a  merchant.  His 
education  was  good,  although  not  public  or  colle- 
giate ;  for  in  his  time,  young  men,  intended  for  mer- 
cantile pursuits,  received  more  instruction  in  geogra- 
phy and  arithmetic  than  others.  Mr.  Higginson 
also,  while  a  young  man,  attended  more  to  the  sub- 
ject of  history  and  politics  than  most  of  his  age  and 
time.  His  family  friends  were  among  the  better  in- 
formed of  that  day ;  and  he  would  not  fail  to  profit 
by  such  an  advantage.  In  1774,  he  visited  Great 
Britain  on  business,  and  in  the  Spring  of  1775,  was 
called  to  the  bar  of  the  House  of  Commons,  to  give  a 
statement  of  the  cod  fishery  of  Massachusetts ;  a 
petition  being  then  before  Parliament  to  prevent  the 
passage  of  a  bill  there  pending  to  prohibit  that  busi- 
ness, or  to  restrict  it  injuriously.  He  stated  that  it 
would  be  very  distressing  to  a  great  number  of  the 
people — that  seven  hundred  vessels,  from  tjventy  to 
seventy  tons,  were  engaged  in  the  business,  about 
forty-two  hundred  men  employed,  besides  about  half 
that  number  to  cure  the  nsh  on  shore ;  and  three 
20 


f 


I         I 


230 


TIMOTHY  BILLIARD. 


thousand  and  fifty  vessels,  from  fifty  to  one  hundred 
and  eighty  tons  employed  to  carry  the  fish  to  foreign 
..larkets,  giving  employment  to  three  thousand — 
that,  if  the  fishery  were  forbidden,  ten  thousand 
men  would  have  to  seek  business  in  othd  countries. 
This  statement  was  misrepresented,  and  some  blame 
was  cast  upon  him^  on  his  return.  But  the  Com- 
mittee of  Safety  in  Salem,  declared  their  satisfaction 
with  his  conduct.  And  a  committee  of  the  Provin- 
'cial  Congress,  appointed  to  examine  the  case,  report- 
ed in  favor  of  Mr.  Higginson,  and  declared  his  con- 
duct just  and  honorable.  Mr.  Higginson  was  a  dele- 
gate in  the  Continental  Congress  from  Massachu- 
setts, in  1783,  but  his  mercantile  engagements  were 
such  that  he  remained  iii  Congress  only  one  year. 
He  ranked  among  the  first  merchants,  both  for  intel- 
ligence aod  probity.  He  survived  to  upwards  of 
eighty  years;  having  retired  from  all  public  busi- 
ness and  cares  for  several  years  before  his  decease. 

BILLIARD,  Rev.  TIMOTHY  was  born  at  Ken- 
sington, in  New  Hampshire  and  had  a  degree  in 
Harvard  College,  in  the  year  1764.  He  was  a  tutor 
in  that  seminary  from  1768  to  1771,  and  afterwards 
received  ordination  over  the  church  and  society  at 
Barnstable  in  Massachusetts.  In  1784,  he  was  in- 
stalled as  pastor  of  the  first  church  in  Cambridge, 
and  continued  in  that  station  till  his  death,  in  1700. 
Mr.  Hilliard  was  a  good  scholar,  an  able  theologian, 
and  a  serious,  practical  preacher ;  but  his  elocution 
was  not  very  attractive.  His  religious  views  were 
evangelical,  but  not  Calvinistic.  His  desire  was  to 
preach  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel,  and  not  the  tenets 
of  any  fallible  uninspired  man.  The  sermons  he 
published,  delivered  at  ordinations,  afibrd  evidence 
of  his  enlarged  and  catholic  sentiments.  He  preach- 
ed at  the  ordination  of  Dr.  Howard,  Springfield  ;  of 
Rev.  Dr.  Ware,  of  Hingbam :  and  of  Rev.  Dr.  An- 

-      «4? 


He 

CoI( 
chai 


T.   HINCKLBT. 


HITCHCOCK. 


231 


idred 

teign 

ind — 

isfind 

itries. 

blame 

Com- 

'action 

rovin- 

report- 

is  con- 

a  dele- 

ssacbu- 

ts  were 

e  year. 

>r  intel- 

atds  of 

ic  busi- 

deccase. 

at  Ken- 
egree  in 
s  a  tutor 
terwards 
)ciety  at 
was  in- 
Linbridge, 

in  mo. 

eologian, 
elocution 
jws  were 
re  was  to 
the  tenets 
irmons  be 
evidence 
■e  preacb- 
[gfield ;  of 
'   Dr.  An- 


"draws,  of  Newburyport.  Mr.  Hilliard  possessed  re- 
markable talents  for  social  intercourse ;  he  was  com- 

'imunicative  and  cheerful,  yet  always  sober,  grave, 
and  edifying  in  his  conversation.     Two  of  his  sons 

^  were  sometime  in  the  ministry  in  Maine. 

HINCKLEY,  Hon.  THOMAS  came  to  Ply- 
mouth, when  a  child,  with  his  father  ard  family ; 
they  resided  a  short  time  at  Plymouth,  then  at  Scit- 
uate,  for  a  few  years,  and  afterwards  at  Barnstable. 
The  family  probably  belonged  to  Rev.  Mr.  Lothrop's 
Church,  who  came  to  Plymouth  in  1634 — and  after 
a  short  residence  removed  to  Barnstable,  iind  there 
died.  Mr.  Hinckley  was  chosen  an  assistant  for 
Plymouth  Colony,  in  1658;  and  was  annually 
elected  to  the  same  place,  until  he  was  chosen  Gov- 
ernor, in  1681,  at  near  the  age  of  sixty.  He  was 
older  than  his  predecessor,  Gov.  Josiah  Winslow;.  He 
received  the  election  to  the  Governor's  chair  till  the 
time  of  Dudley  and  Andros,  in  1686,  who  were  ap- 
pointed by  James  II,  on  his  annulling  the  first  char- 
ter. When  the  charter  of  1691,  was  granted  by 
king  William,  for  Massachusetts,  Plymouth  Colony 
was  included  in  the  province ;  but  Governor  Hinck- 
ley was  one  of  the  Executive  Council,  William 
Bradford,  B.  Lothrop,  and  J.  Walley,  were  the 
other  members  from  Plymouth.  Governor  Hinckley, 
reached  the  age  of  eighty-four,  and  died  in  1703. 
He  was  one  of  the  leading  characters  in  Plymouth 
Colony,  of  the  second  generation.  He  had  the 
character  of  an  intelligent  and  religious  man. 

HITCHCOCK,  Rev.  GAD  D.  D.  received  his 
first  degree  in  Harvard  College,  in  the  year  1743 ; 
and  four  years  after  was  ordained  as  the  pastor  of 
the  Congregational  Church  and  Society  in  Pembroke. 
in  the  county  of  Plymouth.  He  was  an  able  ina 
argumentative  preacher,  but  his  elocution  was  not 


I 


t*»0atr-*. 


232 


NBHEMIAH    HOBART 


( 


I 


\i 


very  pleasant  or  commanding.  He  possessed  a 
strong  mind,  and  was  inquisitive  and  independent 
as  a  theologian,  The  bible  was  his  only  text-book 
and  guide,  with  little  reverence  for  the  systems  of 
divinity,  which  most  in  his  day,  studied  and  follow- 
ed. He  did  not  profess  the  Athanasian  or  Calvinistic 
creed  ;  he  was  indeed  opposed  to  them ;  and  was  al- 
ways ready  to  give  his  reasons  for  rejecting  them, 
with  meekness,  in  the  language  of  inspired  Scrip- 
ture. He  lived  to  a  great  age,  and  was  highly  es- 
teemed for  his  Christian  conversation  and  deport- 
ment. 

HOBART,  Rev.  NEHEMTAH  was  a  son  of  Rev. 
Peter  Hobart,  first  minister  at  Hingham,  and  re- 
ceived his  public  education  in  Harvard  College  with 
the  class  of  1667.  He  had  the  character  of  one  of 
the  first  scholars  of  his  time.  He  was  a  fellow  of 
the  college,  and  also  Vice-President  for  some  time  af- 
terwards, and  when  it  was  usual  to  giv^  to  one  of 
the  corporation  or  fellows  that  title.  This  was  the 
case  aboat  the  close  of  the  seventeenth  and  in  the 
early  part  of  the  eighteenth  century.  Rev.  Mr.  Mor- 
ton of  Charlestown,  was  called  the  Vice-President  of 
the  college  in  1696 ;  and  Rev.  Samuel  Willard  of 
Boston,  was  also  Vice-President  in  1701.  Mr.  Ho- 
bart was  the  settled  pastor  of  the  church  and  society 
in  Newtown,  and  was  ordained  there  in  1674 ;  and 
died  in  the  year  1712.  If  his  epitaph  does  not  flat- 
ter, he  was  a  learned  theologian,  a  useful  fellow  of 
the  college,  and  a  faithful  pastor  of  the  church  of 
Christ  over  which  he  was  placed.  His  brother, 
Gershom  Hobart,  was  minister  of  the  church  and 
congregation  in  Groton,  Massachusetts  ;  but  a  dis- 
pute arose  about  his  salary,  and  he  was  dismissed 
from  his  pastoral  office  there.  Nehemiah  Hobart,  a 
nephew  of  the  above  named,  was  long  the  settled 
minister  of  the  second  church  in  Hingham,  now  call- 

J-  ...-■, ,..>.,|.;:r  ,>....a    ,ii5-.4ti:; 


t  i.         tf  *.)  ^M 


vers 

mar 

He 

chus 

tioo 

for 

tion 


A.  HOLMES. — 8.  UOLTEN. 


sed  a 

indent 

i-book 

ims  of 

bllow- 

rinistic 

xras  al- 

them, 

Scrip- 
hly  es- 
depoit- 

lOfKev. 

and  re- 

Bge  with 

)f  one  of 

fellow  of 

3  time  af- 

p  one  of 
was  the 

ndinthe 

Mr.Mot- 

Bsident  of 
illard  of 
Mr.  Ho- 

,id  society 
674;  and 
1  not  flat- 
I  fellow  of 
chuTch  of 
I  brother, 
mrch  and 
[hut  a  dis- 
1  dismissed 
Hobart,  a 
16  settled 
now  call" 


233 

ed  Conasset.  He  received  a  degree  in  Harvard  CoU 
lege  1714:  and  was  ordained  in  1721,  and  died  in 
1740. 

HOLMES,  Rev.  ABIEL  D.  D.  was  a  native  of 
Fomfret,  in  tlie  State  of  Connecticut,  and  had  his 
public  education  in  Yale  College,  with  the  class  of 
1783.  He  was  sometime  a  tutor  in  that  seminary ; 
and  afterwards  received  ordination  over  a  Congrega- 
tional church  and  society  in  Georgia ;  but  did  not 
contiilue  many  years  in  that  place.  The  climate 
proved  unfavorable  to  his  health.  He  returned  to 
New  England,  and  in  1791  was  installed  as  pastor  of 
the  first  church  and  congregation  in  Cambridge.  In 
this  station  he  remained  until  the  year  1828,  when 
his  connection  with  that  society  was  dissolved.  Dr. 
Holmes  was  a  faithful  and  able  minister  of  the  gos- 
pel ;  and  was  anxious  for  the  spiritual  welfare  of  his 
people.  He  was  studious  in  his  habits;  and  his 
publications  are  numerous*  and  valuable.  Several 
of  his  occasional  sermons  were  published ;  and  all 
bear  witness  to  his  learning  and  good  principles.  He 
wrote  the  life  of  Dr.  StJ'ep,  President  of  Yale  College  ; 
Atnerican  Annals,  in  two  volumes,  a  work  of  much 
labor,  and  great  accuracy :  besides  several  interest- 
ing articles  in  the  Historical  Collections.  Dr.  Holmes 
possessed  social  and  kind  feelings,  and-  was  much 
endeared  to  a  large  circle  of  acquaintance.  He  died 
in  1S37,  at  the  ago  of  seventy-four.  m 

■h 

HOLTBN,  Hon.  SAMUEL  was  a  citizen  of  Dan^ 
vers,  and  an  eminent  physician  in; that  town  for 
many  years ;  but  he  early  engaged  in  political  life. 
He  had  a  seat  in  the  General  Assembly  of  Masssa- 
chusetts,  a  few  years  before  the  war  of  the  Revolu- 
tion;  and  ranked  among  the  very  decided  advocates 
for  civil  liberty.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  conven- 
tion in  Essex  county,  in  September  1774,  a  numer* 
20* 


•©* 


t'i 

1^: 


234 


SAMUEL  HOLTEN. 


jQua  and  highly  respectable  body,  of  which  were  Jer- 
jmiah  Lee,  Tristram  Dalton,  R.  Derby,  T.  Picker- 
ing, Jr.,  J.  Gerrish,  J.  Greenleaf,  S.  Cross,  A.  Ome, 
E.  Gerry,  6ic.  Resolves  were  passed,  on  that  occa- 
sion, truly  patriotic  but  loyal ;  and  indicative  of  a 
regard  for  constitutional  law  and  order,  as  well  as 
strong  attachment  to  civil  liberty,  for'  the  mainte- 
nance of  which  they  met  to  consult.  Dr.  HoUen 
was  a  member  of  the  several  provincial  congress^  of 
Massachusetts,  October  1774,  and  February  and 
May  1775  ,*  and  part  of  the  last  year  one  of  the  com- 
mittee of  safety,  to  which  was  entrusted  the  execu- 
tive business  of  the  Province  at  that  alarming  peri- 
od. When  a  committee  was  chosen  by  the  first  con- 
gress to  consider  and  report  as  to  the  state  of  the  pro- 
vince, he  was  one.  And  he  was  chosen,  in  July  1776, 
a  member  of  the  Supreme  Executive  Council,  by  the 
House  of  Representatives ;  for  the  authority  of  Gov.'^ 
Gage  and  the mane?amt/5 counsellors  was  then  rejected.' 
The  men  who  attended  these  congresses,  in  1774  and 
1775,  and  those  who  took  up  arms  at  that  critical 
period,  merit  the  highest  gratitude  and  praise  which 
their  children  and  posterity  can  a  ward.  them.  Thejr 
were  not  desperate  or  heedless  innovaters,  but  sober, 
religious  characters,  friends  of  equal  laws  and  of  le- 
gitimate government-^but  resolved  to  have  laws  ac- 
cording to  their  charter  and  the  great  principles  of 
the  British  constitution — and  therefore  exposed  them- 
selves to  all  imaginable  dangers  and  losses,  and 
made  the  greatest  personal  exertions  in  defence  of ' 
the  civil  rights  and  liberties  long  enjoyed  by  the 
people  of  the  colony  and  the  province.  They  pur- 
sued all  lawful  ana  reasonable  means  for  a  redress ' 
of  grievances'— but  all  was  iti  vain :  And  then  it 
was,  and  not  tjU  then,  that  they  resolved  to  contend 
for  freedom  by  an  appeal  to  arms.  Dr.  Holten  was 
chosen  a  member  of  the  Continental  Congress  by  iht 
legislature,  in  1778;    and  was  again  a  meml)er  ilk 

'     ■  (jr..; j.>  i'.-.s.! 


lu    *;<•!' 


sion 


gress 
by  V( 
Gorei 


E.  A.  BOLTOKb— E.  HOPKINS. 


235 


Jer- 

iker- 

)me, 

Kjca- 

of  a 

)U  as 

linte- 

ioUen 

B^s  of 
and 

com- 

ixecu- 

r  peri- 
It  con- 

le  pro- 
1776, 

by  the 

f  Gov. 

ijectcd. 

74  and 

critical 
which 
They;: 
sobet, 
ofle^^ 
wsac** 

pies  of 
theta- 
and 
fence  of ' 
)y  the 
ey  put- 
Tedress 
then  it 
ontend 
en  was. 
by  the 
uiberiBi. 


es. 


1782.  He  afterwards  held  the  office  of  Judge  of 
Probate,  and  had  a  seat  on  the  bench  of  the  Common 
Pleas  in  the  county  of  Essex.  He  also  had  a  seat  at 
the  council  board  for  several  years  before  he  was 
Judge  of  Probate.  Judge  Holten  died  in  1816,  aged 
seventy-eight;  and  his  character  both  as  a  public 
agent  and  a  private  citizen,  is  held  in  great  respect. 

HOLYOKE,  EDWARD  A.    M.  D.  L  L.  D.  was 

a  son  of  President  Holyoke  of  Harvard  College ;  and 
received  a  degree  in  that  seminary  with  the  class  of 
1746.  He  chose  the  medical  profession,  and  was 
a  distinguished  physician  in  Salem  more  than  seven- 
ty years.  He  reached  the  uncommon  age  of  one 
hundred  and  one:  and  retained  a  good  degree  of 
health  and  strength  until  about  a  year  before  his  de- 
cease. He  was  an  original  member  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts Medical  Society,  formed  in  1781 ;  and 
sometime  the  president.  His  life  was  useful  rather 
than  brilliant;  and  though  he  was  esteemed  as  a 
learned  man,  he  was  too  modest  to  assume  any  great 
merit  on  the  score  of  science,  or  to  make  a  boast  of 
his  literary  treasures. 

HOPKINS,  ESEK  was  a  native  of  Rhode  Island, 
and  a  brother  of  Stephen  Hopkins,  sometime  Gov- 
ernor of  that  Colony,  and  a  member  of  the  first  Con- 
tinental Congress.     Mr.  Hopkins  received  a  commis- 
sion from  Congress  in  the  year  1775,  as  commander 
of  the  naval  force  of  the  country ;  and  was  styled 
Commodore,  and  sometimes  Admiral,  in  the  papers    « 
of  that  period.      In   the  winter  of  1776-76,  he  re- 
paired to  the  Delaware ;    and  in  February,  with  a. 
sqnadron  of  six  armed  vessels,  but  all  small  except ' 
the  ship  in  which  he  was,  sailed  by  order  of  Con-,; 
gress  for  the  south,  to  check  the  depredations  made  i 
by  vessels  sent   out  by  loord  Dunmpre,  then  the 
Governor  of  Virginia.— He  proceeded  thence  to  the 

---■—--  J  ,.--.,  1  .    .-,       ■;:,)•,  ■ '/  '  ■         .1  .  '  *    '■■'  .  i  I    .'  t  ■■  I  Jt  ■  /t  J 

■  *,*  w  •'■■  V      ■  ------    '^   ■.-   4; 


1 


.111;   lijr  •• 


i36 


STEPHEN  HOPKINS. 


( 


I  1: 


ft" 


vicinity  of  the  Bahama  Islands,  and  made  an  attack 
on  New  Providence.  He  effected  a  landing  of  eight 
hundred  men,  and  seized  cannon  and  other  stores 
and  goods,  which  he  brought  off.  He  also  took 
Mr.  Browne,  the  Clovernor  of  the  place.— On  his 
return,  he  captured  two  armed  vessels  near  Long 
Island,  belonging  to  the  British,  which  had  an- 
noyed the  coasters  and  small  craft  belonging  to 
Americans.  He  also  met  the  Glasgow,  a  British 
sloop-of-war,  but  suffered  her  to  escape,  when  it 
was  thought,  by  proper  spirit  and  exertion,  he 
might  have  taken  her.  Captain  Hopkins  con- 
tinued in  public  service  only  a  short  time,  after  this 
cruise.  He  was  dismissed  by  Congress,  a  few 
months  after  his  return,  on  a  charge  of  having  ex- 
ceeded his  instructions  in  the  attack  on  New  Provi- 
dence ;  and  for  want  o^  ^roper  efforts,  or  courage,  to 
capture  the  Glasgow.  He  was  ever  esteemed  a 
brave  man ;  so  that  it  was  supposed  his  dismission 
from  the  naval  service  was  owing  to  his  disobedience 
or  disregard  of  orders,  when  he  made  an  attack  on 
New  Providence.  It  was  considered  necessary  that 
all  military  commanders,  whether  of  the  army  or  na- 
vy, should  strictly  conform  to  their  instructions.  It 
would  be  well  if  all  military  officers  would  recog- 
nize this  principle.  In  a  republican  and  free  govern- 
ment, where  laws  are  to  govern,  it  is  necessary  that 
the  sword,  and  he  who  wields  it,  should  be  subject 
to  the  civil  po^er.  .,i>,iji,. 


HOPKINS,  Hon.  STEPHEN  was  a  citizen  and  a 
native  of  Rhode  Island  ;  and  descended  from  one  of 
that  name,  who  was  of  the  comoany  which  came 
in  the,  May-flower,  and  settled  in  Plymouth  in  1620^ 
Mr.  |lop}ciu^  was  Governor  of  Rhod^  Island,  in 
ifTS]  and  t9ok  a  decided  part  in  defence  of  civil 
liberty,  at  that ,  memorable  period.  He  held  corres? 
pondence  wfth  the  leaditig  whigs  of  Massachusetts, 


III; 


THOMAS  HOOKEB. 


237 


ttack 
eight 
stores 
» took 
In  his 
Long 
J  an- 
ng  to 
British 
[len  it 
>n,  he 
\   con- 
er  this 
a  few 
ng  ex- 
Provi- 
:age,  to 
3mea  a 
mission 
edience 
ack  on 
ry  that 
or  na- 
ns.   It 
recogf 
[goyern- 
ry  that 
suhject 


In  and  a 
one  of 
ph  came 
fn  1620; 

land,  in 
[of  civil 
corresr 
thusetts, 


of  that  day,  and  with  the  Provincial  Congress  held 
at  Watertown  and  Camhridsc,  in  April  and  May 
1775.  He  approved  and  aided  in  their  measures  for 
defending  the  constitutional  rights  and  liberties  of 
the  colonies ;  and  authorized  the  march  of  the  mili- 
tia of  Rhode  Island,  under  General  Greene,  to  Cam- 
hridge,  to  act  in  concert  with  the  troops  there  assem- 
bled, after  the  affair  at  Lexington  and  Concord,  on  the 
19th  of  April,  from  different  parts  of  Massachusetts, 
from  New  Hampshire  and  Connecticut.  Mr.  Hop- 
kins was  a  delegate  from  Rhode  Island  to  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  which  met  at  Philadelphia,  in  Oc- 
tober 1774 :  And  one  of  the  subscribers  to  the 
Declaration  of  Independence  by  that  Congress,  in 
July  4th,  1776.  He  continued  sometime  in  public 
life  after  this  period,  but  he  was  then  far  advanced 
in  years.  He  published  an  interesting  account,  but 
not  full  and  complete,  of  the  early  history  of  Rhode 
Island ;  stating  the  ill  treatment  of  Roger  Williams 
by  Massachusetts,  and  the  persecution,  which 
caused  the  settlements  in  thai  colony  at  different 
times.  He  aimed,  no  doubt,  to  write  with  impar- 
tiality and  candor ;  and  generally  uiu  so ;  but  there 
is  a  spice  of  prejudice  against  the  puritans  of 
Plymouth  and  Massachusetts,  for  their  alleged  intol- 
erance.— The  cause  he  defends,  however,  is  the 
cause  of  truth  and  humanity ;  Roge.  Williams  and 
some  others  were  severely  persecuted  ;  but  their  con- 
duct was  often  so  imprudent,  so  interfering  with 
concerns  not  their  own,  and  so  disorganizing  in  its 
tendency,  that  the  peace  and  stability  of  Massachu- 
setb  colony  and  churches,  required  more  strictness 
towards  non-conformists  and  strangers,  than  other 
times  and  circumstances  would  justify. 

HOOKER,  Rev.  THOMAS  came  to  Massachu- 
setts in  the  year  1633,  at  the  same  time  with  Rev. 
John  Cotton  and  Rev^  Samuel  Stone.    After  residing 


*   M 


238 


smSON   HOWARD. 


I' 


( 


! 


at  Cambridge  about  one  year,  Mr.  Hooker  and  Mr. 
Stone,  with  most  who  came  over  with  them,  not 
finding  so  much  vacant  land  in  the  vicinity  as  they 
desired,  proposed  to  remove  to  Connecticut  river, 
then  lately  discovered,  and  supposed  to  be  a  place 
for  the  accommodation  of  a  large  company.  The 
Dutch,  from  Manhattan,  had  previously  visited  the 
place,  and  claimed  it ;  and  the  people  of  Plymouth 
also  took  possession  of  a  spot  a  little  higher  up  than 
Hartford,  and  set  up  a  temporary  house  or  shed  for 
the  purpose  of  trading  with  the  Indians.  This  was 
the  occasion  of  somejdifflculty  ;  but  all  was  amica- 
bly settled.  In  1635  and  1636,  several  families  went 
from  Cambridge  to  Hartford ;  and  some  from  Dor- 
chester to  Windsor.  Messrs.  Hooker  and  Stone,  ac- 
companied by  Governor  Haynes,  removed  to  Hart- 
fort,  in  1636 ;  and  there  made  a  permanent  settlement. 
Mr.  Hooker  was  an  able  and  learned  divine,  and  a 
faithful  and  powerful  preacher.  His  praise  was  in 
all  the  churches  of  the  land  while  he  lived.  His 
opinion  was  sought,  and  his  judgment  confided  in, 
where  there  were  disputes  in  the  church.  His 
fame  was  also  great  in  England:  and  he  and 
Mr.  Cotton  were  much  feared,  on  account  of  their 
non-conformity,  and  their  learning,  which  qualified 
them  to  show  the  errors  and  abuses  of  the  English 
hierarchy. 

HOWARD,  Rev.  SIMEON  D.  D.  was  born  in 
Bridgewater,  and  educated  in  Harvard  College, 
where  he  received  his  first  degree,  in  1768.  He 
early  made  choice  of  the  Christian  ministry  for  his 
profession ;  but,  though  not  very  young,  chose  to 
devote  sometime  to  the  study  of  theology.  He 
passed  one  year,  the  seventh* after  he  received  his 
degree,  as  a  tutor  in  the  College ;  and,  in  1767,  was 
ordained  pastor  of  the  West  Church  in  Boston,  as 
successor   of  the    celebrated  Dr.    Mayhew.      Mr. 


CATID  HOWELL. 


239 


nd  Mr. 

m,  uot 
as  they 
;  river, 
a  place 
.    The 
ted  the 
y  mouth 
up  than 
ihed  for 
his  was 
J  amica- 
ies  went 
om  Dor- 
tone,  ac- 
lo  Hart- 
ttlement. 
e,  and  a 
Q  was  in 
d.      His 
fided  in, 
1.      His 
he   and 
of  their 
qualified 
English 


born  in 
College, 
^58.  He 
for  his 
chose  to 
gy.  He 
3ived  his 
r67,  was 
oston,  as 
w.      Mr. 


Howard  was  remarkable  for  sobriety  and  good  con- 
duct, from  his  youth.  He  had  great  simplicity  of 
character ;  and,  while  reserve  and  grave  in  his  de- 
portment, he  displayed^  an  uniformlv  cheerful  dispo- 
sition. Dr.  Howard  p68sesse;,d  good  talents,  and  was 
respectable  as  a  scholar.  As  a  writer,  he  was  cor- 
rect, methodical,  and  argumentative;  but  less  at- 
tractive, and  less  original,  than  his  predecessor.  His 
sermons  were  scriptural,  evangelical,  and  practical ; 
and  could  not  well  I  be  preached  without  producing 
a  good  effect :  yet  they  were  generally  inferior  to 
those  which  Dr.  May  hew  gave  to  the  public.  Dr. 
Howard  was  a  useful  member  of  several  learned  and 
benevolent  societies ;  and  at  the  same  time  faithfully 
performed  his  duties  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel. — 
Several  of  his  discourses,  delivered  on  public  occa- 
sions, were  published ;  and  ranked  among  the  good 
pulpit  performances  of  the  day.  He  died  in  1805, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-two. 

HOWELL,  Hon.  DAVID  LL.  D.  received  his 
education  in  the  College  at  Princeton ;  and  was  the 
first  instructor  in  the  College  of  Rhode  Island,  in 
1769.  He  was  long  connected  with  that  seminary, 
as  tutor,  professor  of  Natural  Philosophy,  and  of 
law ;  as  the  secretary,  and  then  as  one  of  the  fellows. 
He  also  held  the  office  of  attorney  of  the  United 
States  for  Rhode  Island,  and  then  as  judge  of  the 
Federal  Court,  for  that  Siate.  He  was  a  good 
scholar  and  a  sound  lawyer ,  and  as  a  judge  he  sus- 
tained a  character  for  uprightness  and  ability. 
He  also  represented  the  State  of  Rhode  Island  in 
Congress,  before  he  was  appointed  judge.  He  pass- 
ed a  great  portion  of  his  life  in  literary  and  pohtical 
stations ;  and  exerted  a  good  influence  in  the  com- 
munity, for  half  a  century  from  his  first  engaging 
as  a  teacher  in  college. 


240 


WILUAiii    HtBBARfi. 


HUBBARD,  Rev.  WILLIAM  son  of  William 
Hubbard,  an  early  settler  of  Ipswich,  and  a  man  of 
distinction  in  his  day,  received  his  public  education 
in  Harvard  College,  with  the  first  class  there  gradu- 
ated, in  1642.  Several  of  the  early  graduates  in 
that  college  had  the  reputation  of  good  scholars: 
they  were  well  prepared  before  they  entered ;  and 
president  Dunster  was  a  very  learned  man,  and  gen- 
eral scholar.  Mr.  Hubbai^d  was  settled  in  the  min- 
istry at  Ipsw;ch  ;  and  continued  in  that  station  until 
his  death,  in  1704.  In  the  year  1684  the  president's 
chpiir  being  vacant,  he  was  requested  to  preside  at 
the  public  services  on  the  day  of  commencement. 
Mr.  Hubbard  published  several  sermons ;  that  on  the 
day  of  the  annual  election  of  Colonial  officers  has 
been  deemed  equal  to  almost  any  published  on  any 
similar  occasion.  He  left  a  history  of  New  Eng- 
land in  manuscript,  which  was  not  published  in  his 
life  time,  though  the  General  Court,  in  1682,  voted  a 
small  sum  to  aid  in  its  publication.  It  was  written 
in  1678.  It  was  known  to  Mr.  Hutchinson  and 
others;  and  great  use  made  of  its  contents  by  him. 
It  is  a  compilation  from  various  others ;  and  contains 
little  entirely  new.  But  by  some  modern  writers  it 
seems  to  be  undervalued;  and  represented  as  a 
string  of  errors  and  blunders.  He  was  not  always 
very  accurate ;  and  sometimes  mistook  the  older 
writers  whom  he  quoted.  But  a  late  able  and  im- 
partial critic.  Rev.  Dr.  John  Eliot,  speaks  of  him 
generally  as  a  faithful  historian  and  of  good  author- 
ity ;  and  says,  "  some  have  made  use  of  the  inform- 
ation he  gave,  without  acknowledging  it; -'  not  a 
very  uncommon  case.  Dr.  Eliot  adds,  "  it  ought  to 
hav^  been  printed  many  years  ago,  for  its  historical 
information ;  and  for  the  reputation  of  the  author. 
He  was  the  best  writer  in  New  England  while  he 
lived.    Why  was  his  history  never  published  1    it 


DAtlD    HUMPHRET9. 


241 


fell  into  the  hands  of  some  who  were  disposed  to 
make  a  liberal  use  of  it  for  their  own  purposes ;  and 
then  kept  it  from  the  public  eye."  Mr.  Hutchinson 
says  the  work  was  of  great  use  to  him,  in  writing 
his  history  ;  and  also  to  Dr.  Cotton  Mather  before 
his  time.  Mr.  Hubbard  also  published,  in  1677,  a 
narrative  of  the  Indian  wars. 

HUMPHREYS,  Hon.  DAVID  L  L.  D.  a  native 
of  Connecticut,  received  his  public  education  in  Yale 
College,  with  ihe  class  of  1771.     He  early  entered 
the  American  army  of  the  Revolutionary  war ;  and 
many  other  graduates  of  that  college,  as  well  as  of 
Harvard,   engaged  in   the  service  of  the  country, 
either  in  the  cabinet  or  the  field,  at  that   alarming 
period  when  the  dearest  rights  of  the  people  were  in 
danger.     The   paramount  object  with  all   was  the 
preservation  of  ancient  political  rights  and  privileges ; 
for  they  considered  slavery  as  the  greatest  of  all 
temporal  evils.      Many  left  their  legal  and  literary 
pursuits  for  the  camp ;    and  many  passed  directly 
from  the  school  cr  college  to  the  tented  field.     Mr. 
Humphreys  was  sometime  one  of  the  aids  of  General 
Washington ;  and  shared  largely  in  his  esteem  and 
confidence.     It  is  believed  that  all  General  Wash* 
ington's  aids  during  the  war,  were  literary  characters, 
and  of  a  collegiate  education.     Colonel  Humphreys 
was  a  good  scholar  ;  and  he  courted  the  muses  with 
some  success.     He  published  a  poem  in  1784,  on  the 
prospects  of  the  future  prosperity  and  glory  of  the 
United  States.      He   was  appointed  by  President 
Washington,  minister  to  Portugal ;  and  afterwards 
to  Spain  by  Mr.  Jefferson ;  to  whom  he  had  been  a 
private  secretary  several  years  before.     For  several 
of  the  last  years  of  his  life,  he  was  not  occupied  by. 
the  cares  of  public  office ;  ahd  passed  his  time  with 
books  and  friends.    At  a  more  early  period,  he  pub- 
lished memoirs  of  the  brave  General  Israel  Putnam, 
21 


5 


242 


JOHN   HUMPHBSY. 


which  passed  through  several  editions.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  American  Academy  of  Arts  and 
Sciences,  of  the  American  Philosophical  Society  of 
Philadelphia,  and  of  the  Royal  Society  of  London. 

HUMPHREY,  JOHN  Esq.  was  one  of  the  origin- 
al Patentees  of  the  territory  of  Massachusetts,  granted 
in  March  1628,  and  one  of  the  first  board  of  assist- 
ants. He  was  elected  Deputy  Governor  in  1629 ; 
but  not  being  able  to  embark  with  the  company  in 
the  spring  of  1630,  Mr.  Dudley  was  chosen  to  that 

glace,  a  short  time  before  they  left  England.  He 
ad  pioperty  and  influence,  at  that  time  :  but  after- 
wards became  very  poor,  by  injudicious  enterprises, 
or  a  desire  to  gain  wealth  by  speculation  and  trade. 
He  came  over  to  Massachusetts,  with  his  family,  in 
1634,  and  settled  at  Lynn,  but  was  chosen  an  assist- 
ant in  1632,  and  1633,  as  he  was  then  expected  soon 
to  arrive.  His  wife  was  a  sister  of  the  Earl  of  Lin- 
coln, and  sister  to  lady  Arbeila,  the  wife  of  Isaac 
Johnson.  Mrs.  Humphrey  died  soon  after  arriving 
in  New  England,  as  did  her  sister  Johnson.  Mr. 
Humphrey  left  his  children  and  went  to  the  West 
Indies  for  the  purpose  of  trade ;  but  was  unfortunate, 
and  his  daughters  who  had  been  very  delicately  ed- 
ucated, were  exposed  to  great  privations,  and  suf- 
ferings ,  and  even  their  reputation  was  tarnished  by 
reports  unfavorable  to  their  virtue.  Mr.  Humphrey 
was  blamed  for  his  conduct  towards  his  family  :  and 
forfeited  the  high  standing  he  had  formerly  in  the 
estimation  of  his  friends,  the  founders  of  the  Colony. 
Besides  lady  Susan,  the  wife  of  Mr.  Humphrey, 
and  her  sister  lady  Arbella,  there  were  some  of  the 
females  of  the  first  company,  by  which  Massachu- 
setts was  colonized,  who  belonged  to  families  of  no- 
blemen, or  knights,  in  England.  Lady  Moody  a 
relation  of  Mrs.  Humphrey,  came  to  the  country 
and  lived  sometime  in  Lynn;  but  afterwards  re- 


jrSDIDUR  RUNtlNOTON. 


343 


as  a 
and 
ty  of 
m. 

cigin- 
anted 
issist- 
1629 ; 
my  in 
)  that 
-    He 

after- 
piises, 

trade. 

lily,  in 
assist- 
Bdsoon 
Df  Lin- 
f  Isaac 
irriving 
1.    Mr. 
B  West 
rtunate, 
lely  ed- 
nd  suf- 
shed  by 
mphrey 
' :  and 
in  the 
Colony, 
mphrey, 
e  of  the 
ssachu- 
s  of  no- 
loody  a 
country 
ards  re- 


moved to  Long  Island,  where  many  families  from 
Massachusetts  early  migrated.  The  wife  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Bulkley  of  Concord,  of  Rev.  Mr.  Whiting  of  Lynn, 
of  Rev.  Mr.  Hoar  of  Cambridge,  and  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Sherman  of  Sudbury,  were  all  of  the  gentry,  so  call- 
ed, in  their  native  land.  And  several  others  were 
daughters  of  opulent  landholders  in  England ;  and 
had  been  brought  up  in  competency  and  in  some  de- 
gree of  elegance;  but  their  religious  faith  guided 
them,  and  ^heir  Christian  hopes  sustained  and  cheered 
them  in  fhr  -  afflictive  peregrinations.  On  several 
occasions,  ,  igland,  Mr.  Humphrey  acted  as  a 
sincere  an  ^,  iir.rous  friend  to  the  Colony;  but  was 
deficient  in  stability  and  good  judgment. 

HUNTINGTON,  Gen.  JEDEDIAH  was  a  native 
of  Norwich,  in  the  State  of  Connecticut :  and  had 
his  education  in  Harvard  College,  where  he  re- 
ceived his  first  degree  in  1763.  On  leaving  college, 
he  engaged  m  business  as  a  merchant  in  Norwich. 
His  father,  Jabez  Huntington,  was  also  a  respectable 
merchant  in  that  town  ;  and  one  of  the  oldest  fami- 
lies in  the  State  of  Connecticut,  containing  many 
distinguished  men  from  the  first  settlement  to  the 
present  day.  The  son  early  entered  the  American 
army,  after  the  Revolutionary  war  began ;  and  con- 
tinued until  the  return  of  peace,  in  1783.  He  was 
esteemed  as  a  good  disciplinarian  and  a  brave  officer. 
The  second  year  of  the  war  he  was  appointed 
Brigadier  General.  Gen.  Washington  appointed  him 
Collector  of  the  port  of  New  London,  His  character 
was  very  estimable  in  private  life ;  and  he  was  much 
respected  and  beloved  by  a  large  circle  of  friends. 
He  lived  to  the  advanced  age  of  seventy-five ;  and 
at  his  death,  in  1818,  there  were  very  few  of  his  old 
companions  in  arms  who  survived :  at  the  present 
time — ^July  1842— of  three  hundred  and  thirty-six 
eommissioned  officers    in  the  Massachusetts  line, 


944 


JOSEPH  HUNTINGTON. 


which  composed  a  far  greater  part  of  the  whole 
American  army  than  any  other  State,  only  i&fteen 
survive.  Some  of  them  are  more  than  ninety  ;  and 
none  are  under  eighty.  Next  to  Massachusetts,  Con- 
necticut furnished  the  largest  number  of  men,  in  the 
war  of  the  Revolution,  in  proportion  to  its  population. 
Besides  the  brave  Major  General  Putnnm, .  there 
were  several  distinguished  officers  from  that  State  : 
Huntington,  Parsons,  Humphreys,  Meigs,  Woos- 
ter,  Chester,  &^.  At  the  close  of  the  war  in  1783, 
the  Massachusetts  troops  of  the  Continental  army 
were  four  thousand  five  hundred ;  and  those  of  Con- 
necticut were  one  thousand  eight  hundred. 

HUNTINGTON,  Rev.  JOSEPH  D.  D.  was  edu- 
cated in  Yale  College^  and  received  his  first  degree 
in  1762.  He  soon  after  took  the  pastoral  care  of 
the  church  and  congregation  in  Coventry,  Connecti- 
cut, and  continued  in  that  relation  till  his  death  in 
1795.  His  theological  views  were  more  liberal  than 
those  of  the  clergy  generally  in  New  England.  Very 
few  avowed  their  belief  of  the  final  salvation  of  all 
men,  as  he  did ;  and  yet  he  believed  in  a  future  retri- 
bution. He  was  also  opposed  to  the  imposition  of  par- 
ticular creeds,  as  a  requisite  to  an  admission  into  the 
Christian  church,  and  the  enjoyment  of  its  ordi- 
nances. His  peculiar  religious  opinions  were  given 
to  the  public  in  a  volume  with  the  title  of  "■■  Calvin- 
ism improved," — But  it  was  directly  opposed  to  the 
creed  of  Calvin.  The  aim  of  Dr  Huntington  was  to 
prove  that  Christianity  was  truly  and  really  a  sys- 
tem of  grace ;  and  in  attempting  to  show  this,  he 
was  obliged  toto  ceelo  to  oppose  the  arbitrary  and  ex- 
clusive system  of  Calvin.  As  to  the  ability  of 
the  statements  and  arguments  of  the  writer,  the  the- 
ological community  was  divided  in  sentiment ;  and 
so  remain  to  the  present  day.  The  subject  is  beyond 
the  solution  of  a  fallible  and  limited  intellect.    It  is 


1/,': 


hole 
:teen 

and 
Con- 
nthe 
ition. 
there 
State : 
^oos- 
1783, 

army 
f  Con- 


is  edu- 
degree 

care  of 
innecti- 
eath  in 
[al  than 
Very 
of  all 
reretri- 
ofpai- 
into  the 
ordi- 
ro  given 
Calvin- 
to  the 
was  to 
^  a  sys- 
this,  he 
and  ex- 
ility  of 
the  the- 
jnt;  and 
beyond 
ftt.    It  is 


SAMUEL  BmrriNGTCMf. 


245 


«Tident  from  Seripture,  and  from  tlie  moral  nature  of 
man,  that  a  retribution  awaits  us — but  the  particular 


nature  and 
revealed. 


duration  of  that   retribution    are  not 


HUNTINGTON,  Hon.  SAMUEL  LL.  D.was  a 
native  of  Windham,  in  Connecticut,  and  of  one  of 
the  most  eminent  families  in  that  State.  He  had 
not  the  privilege  of  a  college  education  ;  but  he  gave 
early  evidence  of  talents,  and  his  parents  indulged 
his  desire  to  study  law.  He  began  to  practice  in 
that  profession  in  Norwich,  in  1757,  then  a  large 
town,  and  of  considerable  trade  and  navigation. 
He  soon  rose  to  distinction  in  his  profession  ;  and  in 
1764,  was  a  Representative  from  Norwich  to  the 
General  Assembly,  when  about  thirty-one  years  of 
age.  Nine  years  after  he  was  appointed  a  Justice  of 
the  Superior  Court,  in  that  State.  In  the  spring  of 
1775,  he  had  a  seat  in  the  Supreme  Executive  Coun- 
cil ;  and  near  the  close  of  that  year  was  a  delegate 
to  the  Continental  Congress ;  the  most  important 
assembly  of  patriots  this  country  had  ever  known, 
and  at  a  crisis  the  most  momentous.  It  was  com- 
posed 'jf  four  or  five  citizens  from  each  colony  or 
province:  equally  distinguished  for  their  wisdom 
and  discretion,  for  their  patriotism  and  their  attach- 
ment to  civil  liberty.  He  was  often  chosen  a  dele- 
gate to  this  great  national  council,  and,  in  1779, 
was  elected  President.  After  an  intermission  of  three 
years,  he  was  again  elected  a  member  in  1783 ;  and 
in  1784,  was  Chief  Justice  and  Lieutenant  Gov. 
emor  of  Connecticut.  In  1786,  he  received  the  elec- 
tion of  Chief  Magistrate,  and  was  re-elected  every 
year  after  till  his  decease,  in  1796 :  when  he  had 
reached  his  sixty-fourth  year.  Governor  Huntington 
was  a  good  man,  as  well  as  an  able  statesman  and 
pohtician  :  religious,  sedate,  and  of  remarkably  cor* 
rect  judgment :  enjoying  the  full  confidence  of  his 
21  • 


I 


! 


246 


THOMAS  HUTCHINSON. 


fellow  citizens  for  his  honesty  and  firmness  of  pur- 
pose. 

HUTCHINSON,  Hon.  THOMAS  was  a  native 
of  Boston,  and  received  his  first  degree  in  Harvard 
College  in  1728,  at  the  early  age  of  sixteen.  The 
family  was  one  of  the  most  respectable  in  the  prov- 
ince ;  and  his  father  had  been  much  in  public  life. 
Mr.  Hutchinson  soon  engaged  in  politics,  though  bis 
business  or  pursuits  were  those  of  a  merchant.  There 
were  then  (1736)  comparatively  few  who  made  law 
a  profession.  The  men  of  the  greatest  influence 
were  merchants ;  and  one  reason,  no  doubt,  was 
their  wealth.  Hutchinson  was  a  close  student,  and 
a  good  scholar  :  He  gave  much  attention  to  the 
study  of  English  history  ;  and  to  the  rise  and  pro- 
gress of  the  British  Colonies  in  North  America.  His 
history  of  Massachusetts,  written  about  1760,  but 
not  brought  down  so  low  as  that  date,  is  very  valu- 
able ;  though  John  Adams  said  "  it  did  not  satisfy 
him."  For  a  history,  he  has  given  too  many  state 
papers  in  the  text,  instead  of  placing  them  in  notes. 
The  third  volume,  written  late  in  life,  and  after  he 
left  Massachusetts,  in  which  his  own  administration, 
while  Governor,  is  related,  is  generally  correct  and 
impartial. 

When  the  dispute  began  with  the  Britsh  ministry, 
in  1764,  Mr.  Hutchinson  contended  for  all  charter 
privileges  and  liberties ;  but  was  reluctant  in  claim- 
ing them  as  rights,  which  the  patriots  of  that  period 
did.  He  admitted,  generally,  that  the  rights  and 
liberties  claimed  by  the  patriots  of  Massachusetts  in 
1766,  and  after,  were  such  as  they  had  by  charter, 
and  had  exercised  and  enjoyed  from  the  first  settle- 
ment of  the  colon y^-and  yet  he  resolved  all  civil 
right  and  power  into  the  will  of  the  King,  or  of  the 
Parliament.  This  was  the  great  difference.  He  was 
for  submission  and  for  begging  and  petitioning,  as 


THOMAS    HUTCHINSON. 


247 


mr- 


tive 
raid 
The 
ttoy- 
life. 

hiMS 

"here 
3  law 
iience 
,  was 
t,  and 

0  the 

1  pro- 
I.  His 
0,  but 
r  valu- 
satisfy 
Y  state 

notes, 
fter  he 
Ltation, 
ct  and 


for  a  favor.  The  great  majority  claimed  their  polit- 
ical powers  as  a  right  founded  in  reason  and  natu.  ^ 
belonging  to  them  as  Englishmen,  and  as  recognizeo 
by  the  royal  charter.  Mr.  Hutchinson  became  an 
apologist  for  all  the  arbitrary  and  oppressive  meas- 
ures of  the  British  ministry.  A  controversy  followed 
between  him,  as  the  King's  Governor,  and  the  patriot- 
ic members  of  the  General  Court,  and  continued  till 
he  left  the  country  and  retired  to  England,  in  May 
1774.  He  was  considered  very  ambitious ;  and  en- 
grossed most  of  the  high  offices  in  the  province,  in  his 
own  family.  He  was  first  Lieutenant  Governor, 
Judge  of  Probate,  one  of  the  Supreme  Executive 
Council,  and  a  Justice  of  the  Superior  Court.  Then 
Governor  in  1770.  And  his  brother  and  sons  also 
received  office  from  liim  while  he  was  Chief  Magis- 
trate. In  private  life,  Governor  Hutr'^pson  was 
exemplary,  a  public  professor  of  religion  **  a  friend 
to  the  clergy.    He  died  in  England  in  th   ,  .ar  1780. 


inistry, 
charter 
I  claim- 
period 
its  and 
isetts  in 
charter, 
t  settle- 
all  civil 
of  the 
He  was 
ming,  as 


CHAPTER  IX. 


J  K 


JACKSON,  Hon.  JONATHAN  received  his  pub- 
lic education  in  Harvard  College,  where  he  was 
graduated  in  1761.  He  was  a  native  of  Boston, 
but  lived  a  great  part  of  his  life  in  Newburyport ; 
and  had  the  reputation  of  an  intelligent  and  honor- 
aUe  merchant.  He  was  one  of  the  most  polished 
men  of  his  time ;  very  gentlemanly  and  courteous  in 
his  deportment,  but  without  parade  or  ostentation. 
In  the  Revolution,  he  discovered  decision  and  zeal 
in  favor  of  the  rights  of  the  colonies,  but  was  al- 
ways guided  by  judgment  and  discretion.  He  was 
a  representative  from  Newburyport  in  the  legislature 
of  Massachusetts  in  1777 ;  and  in  1782,  a  member  oi 
the  Continental  Congress.  In  17S9,  he  received  the 
appointment  of  Marshal  for  Massachusetts,  from 
President  Washington,  who  selected  none  fbr  public 
office  but  men  of  ability  and  integrity.  Mr.  Jackson 
was  at  the  same  time  a  Senator  from  Essex  County, 
in  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts ;  and  an  at- 
tempt was  made  to  deprive  him  of  his  seat,  because 
he  had  accepted  the  office  of  Marshal  in  the  federal 
government.  But  a  majority  of  the  Senate  decided 
that  the  appointment  did  not  justly  deprive  him  of 
his  seat  in  the  legislature  of  Massachusetts.  In  a 
similar  case,  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  a  vote 
was  obtained  declaring  it  incompatible  for  an  officer 
in  the  federal  government,   to  have  a  seat  in  the 


EDWARD  JOHNSON. 


249 


his  pub- 
he  was 
Boston, 
•arypoTt ; 
d  honor- 
polished 
irteous  in 
tentation. 
[and  zeal 
i:  was  al- 
He  was 
egislature 
aember  of 
•eived  the 
etts,  from 
fbr  public 
r.  Jackson 
,x  County, 
nd  an  at- 
it,  because 
the  federal 
xte  decided 
ive  him  of 
etts.    In  a 
ives,  a  vote 
iT  an  officer 
seat  in  the 


legislative  assembly  of  the  State ;  and  the  seat  of  a 
member,  who  had  received  an  office  from  the  gen- 
eral government,  was  rendered  vacant.  Mr.  Jack- 
son was  afterwards  treasurer  and  receiver  general 
of  the  Commonwealth.  He  gave  to  the  administra- 
tion of  President  Washington,  in  the  critical  period  of 
1793  and  1794,  his  most  decided  support,  it  was  a 
time,  indeed,  when  all  good  men  and  sincere  patriots 
were  called  upon  to  aid  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  in  the  energetic,  though  pacific  policy,  which 
he  then  proposed  and  pursued.  The  company  and 
acquaintance  of  Mr.  Jackson  were  sought  by  all  his 
contemporaries  of  taste,  and  learning  and  virtue. 
The  blandness  of  his  manners,  was  a  correct  index 
of  the  benevolence  and  kindness  of  his  heart.  His 
family  was  well  educated,  in  all  respects ;  and  his 
sons  have  been  among  the  most  useful  and  honora- 
ble characters  of  the  generation  now  near  its  close. 
He  died  in  1810,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six.  The  last 
years  of  his  honorable  life  were  passed  in  Boston. 

JOHNSON,  EDWARD  came  to  Massachusetts 
with  the  large  company  of  settlers  in  1630 ;  and  ap- 
pears from  the  first,  to  have  been  a  man  of  resolu- 
tion and  influence.  He  generally  had  the  title  of 
Captain ;  and  at  one  time  commanded  the  company 
of  militia  in  Woburn,  where  he  lived  the  greater 
part  of  the  time  after  coming  to  this  country.  He 
survived  to  the  year  1672.  Woburn  was  settled  in 
1642,  chiefly  from  Charlestown,  where  Johnson  first 
resided,  and  he  was  one  of  the  principal  inhabitants 
at  that  time,  and  until  his  decease.  He  was  town 
clerk,  and  kept  the  records,  very  full  and  correct,  for 
thirty  years.  In  church  afiairs  also,  he  was  the 
chief  character  in  the  town.  He  was  a  strict  non- 
conformist, or  puritan,  and  always  exhibited  a  spirit 
of  deep  and  practical  piety.  Religious  faith  indeed, 
was  the  great  support  of  that  memorable  company 


h 


!! 


250 


ISAAC   JOHNSON. 


of  men.  They  left  their  native  country,  and  many 
dear  friends,  for  the  sake  of  religion ;  and  endured 
most  appalling  trials  and  sufferings  in  the  accomplish- 
ment of  their  great  object;  the  enjoyment  of  Chris- 
tian ordinances  in  their  purity,  for  themselves  and 
posterity.  Mr.  Johnson  was  among  tlie  first  who 
took  the  oath  in  tiie  colony,  and  was  admitted  in 
1631.  Mr.  Johnson  was  often  a  representative  to 
the  General  Court  or  Assembly ;  and  at  that  period 
one  of  the  council  of  war.  He  wrote  an  account  of 
the  early  settlement  of  Massachusetts  colony,  from 
1628  to  1654.  His  statement  of  the  formation  of 
the  Churches  in  the  colony,*for  twenty-five  years,  is 
particular  and  generally  accurate :  but  he  has  not  in 
all  cases  given  them  in  the  precise  order  of  time. 
The  work  relates  some  events  not  noticed  by  Win- 
throp  or  Hubbard,  which  are  important,  and  serve 
to  show  the  characters  of  the  leading  men  in  the 
colony,  as  well  as  of  the  clergy  who  were  the  first 
pastors  and  preachers.  It  is  rather  an  ecclesiastical 
than  a  civil  history  of  Massachusetts,  for  the  first 
twenty-five  years.  The  book  has  a  quaint  title,  but 
not  more  peculiar  than  were  ^iven  to  other  volumes 
published  in  the  seventeenth  century  in  England,  as 
well  as  America :  "  Wonder-working  Providence  of 
Zion's  Saviour." 

JOHNSON,  ISAAC  belonged  to  the  Massachu- 
setts Bay  Company,  by  which  Charlcstown,  Boston, 
and  vicinity  were  settled,  in  1630 ;  and  one  of  the 
board  of  assistants,  who,  with  the  governor,  exer- 
cised the  civil  power  with  which  that  company  was 
clothed  by  the  royal  charter.  He,  with  Endicott, 
Bradstreet,  and  Bellingham,  were  also  original  pa- 
tentees of  the  territory.  He  was  an  assistant  before 
and  after  their  removal  to  America.  He  had  a  large 
estate,  and  was  esteemed  a  pillar  of  the  corporation 
and  colony.     His  wife  was  lady  Arbella,  of  an  hon- 


pose 

insult 

and, 

of  th< 

of  ei 

worl( 

depai 

1630,1 

prayc 

ChurJ 

this  r| 

parti< 

pious] 

sighec 


IMAC  JOHNSOff. 


251 


iny 

ish- 

iris- 

and 

who 

d  in 

e  to 

Briod 

nt  of 

from 

Dii  of 

irs,  is 

not  in 
time. 

Win- 
serve 

in  the 

te  first 

lastical 

e  first 
e,  but 

olumes 

and,  as 

ence  of 


ssachu- 
3oston, 

of  the 
)r,  exer- 
iny  was 
ndicott, 
inal  pa- 
it  before 
la  large 
poration 

an  hon- 


orable and  noble  family ;  and  whose  character,  as  to 
religion,  was  highly  estimated  and  eulogized.     It 
might  justly  be  said  of  her,  "  that  she  left  all  for 
Christ."    But  she  lived  only  a  few  nonths  after  her 
arrival  at  Salem,  in  June,    1630.      As  one  rather 
quaintly  observed,  "she  took  New  England  in  her 
way  to  Heaven."      Mr.  Johnson  survived  her  only 
one  month:     He   also  died  in  September  of  that 
year,  and  soon  after  he  had  began  to  build  a  house 
on  the  south  side  of  Charles  river,  now  Boston.     He 
had  chosen  that  place  for  his  intended  residenee,  and 
purchased  a  lot  for  a  dwelling  house.     But  was  soon 
called  to  higher  and  better  mansions,  prepared  by  the 
Divine  Saviour,  for  all  the  good  of  every  name  and 
nation.     His  death  was  greatly  deplored  ;  and  some 
were  ready  to  give  up  the  colony,  when  he   was 
taken   away.      On  his  wealth,  and  his  virtue,  his 
public  spirit  and  disinterestedness,  many  reposed  as 
their  chief  support  and  hope.     He  had  the  affections 
of  all  as  a  man,  and  the  confidence  of  the  rulers  as 
a  wise  and  prudent  citizen.     It  is  believed  he  left  no 
children ;  and  therefore  has  been  less  eulogized  than 
others  of  no  more   virtue  or  merit.      But  Boston 
should  not  forget  its  generous  founder,  whose  pur- 
pose it  was  to  expend  his  life  and  estate  on  the  pen- 
insula which  it  now  embraces.     Without  Winthrop, 
and  Johnson  as  leaders,  many  of  the  most  meritorious 
of  the  first  settlers  had  never  engaged  in  the  enterprize 
of  emigrating  to  this  new  and  uncultivated  pan  of  the 
world.     Mr.  Johnson  was  one  of  those,  who,  on  the 
departure  of  the  company  from  England,  in  March 
1630,   requested   the  Christian  sympathy  and  the 
prayers    of   their  pious   brethren    of  the    English 
Church.     It  has  been  sometimes  represented  that 
this  request  was  made  to  the  bishops  and  prelates 
particularly.      But  it  was  not  so.      It  was  to  their 
pious  brethren  who  remained  in  England,  but  who 
sighed  for  reform,  and  for  greater  purity  in  church 


252 


JOHN  C.    JONES. 


ceromonios,  as  much  as  those  who  emigrated.  It 
was  addressed  to  puritans  and  non-conformists,  who 
had  not  the  courage  or  the  means  to  induce  them  to 
remove.  With  all  such,  thcv  wished  stiii  to  hold 
spiritual  communion  and  fellowship;  as  much  as 
those,  who  came  to  Plymouth  in  1620,  did  the  reli- 
gious friendship  and  regard  of  their  brethren  left  at 
Leyden. 

JONES,  Hon.  JOHN  COFFIN  wad  born  in 
Newbury,  and  had  his  education  in  Harvard  Col- 
lege, with  the  class  of  1768.  He  chose  the  mercan- 
tile profession,  and  early  settled  in  Boston.  He  pur- 
sued this  honorable  business  several  years,  with  a 
high  reputation  for  integrity  and  intelligence ;  and 
also  with  a  good  degree  oi  success  in  his  nautical 
enterprises.  While  chiefly  devoted  to  commerce,  as 
a  stated  business,  he  gave  his  attention  to  political 
subjects,  and  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  welfare  of 
his  country.  In  1788,  he  was  chosen  into  the  Gen- 
eral Court,  from  Boston,  where  he  then  lived ;  when 
there  were  only  six  members  from  that  town :  and 
in  a  few  years  he  received  an  election  us  senator  for 
the  County  of  Suffolk.  His  knowledge  on  the  sub- 
ject of  trade  and  commerce,  was  correct  and  exten- 
sive ;  and  great  reliance  was  always  placed  on  his 
judgment.  When  a  committee  was  appointed  by 
the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts,  in  1786,  on 
recommendation  of  Governor  Bowdoin,  to  meet 
committees  from  other  States,  to  devise  a  plan  of  in^ 
creasing  the  powers  of  Congress,  as  to  commerce, 
revenue,  and  the  Snances  of  the  United  States,  Mr. 
Jones  was  selected  as  one.  All  the  delegates  did  not 
attend  the  meeting ;  but  it  was  advised  to  call  a 
Continental  convention,  to  amend  the  articles  of  the 
old  Congress,  giving  that  body  full  and  plenary 
ppwer  in  the  regulation  of  foreign  commerce,  and  in 
collecting  a  revenue,  to  pay  the  public  debt.    Such 


keI 

sachu^ 

ter,  at 

Pacifid 

ica. 

the  n(l 

ploym) 

enterp/ 


,-/ 


kOUlERT  KEAYNB. — JOHN  KENDRICK. 


353 


It 

rhO 

I  to 
old 

B8 

reli- 
t  at 


I  m 
Col- 
can- 
pur- 
ilh  a 

and 
itical 
se,  as 
litical 
ire  of 

Gen- 
when 
:  and 
or  for 
e  sub- 
exten- 
on  his 
ed  by 
J6,  on 
meet 

of  in-^ 
imercc, 
es,  Mr. 
did  not 

call  a 

of  the 
plenary 

and  in 
Such 


a  convention  was  hold  at  Philadelphia  in  1787. 
Mr.  Jones  was  a  decided  and  iirm  supporter  of 
the  measures  of  President  Washington,  and  of 
the  federal  government  in  1790-1800:  which  con- 
tributed so  highly  to  the  prosperity  ana  honor  of  the 
United  States. 

KEAYNE,  ROBERT  came  to  Massachusetts  in 
the  year  1636.  He  had  considerable  estate,  and  had 
favored  the  plan  of  emigrating  to  New  England 
some  years  before  Winthrop  and  company  began  the 
settlement.  He  encouraged  and  aided  in  the  planta- 
tion made  by  the  Leyden  pilgrims  at  Plymouth,  be- 
fore the  Massachusetts  company  was  incorporated  in 
England.  Mr.  Kcayne  was  the  principal  person 
in  getting  up  a  military  company,  of  a  volunteer 
character,  in  the  colony.  The  charter  from  the  gov- 
ernor and  assistants  for  the  company  was  to  Xeayne 
and  his  associates ;  and  it  was  the  foundation  of  the 
Ancient  and  Honorable  Artillery  Company.  Gentle- 
men exempt  from  militia  service  were  often  members 
of  the  company.  This  was  in  the  year  1638.  And 
for  the  purpose  of  creating  a  fund  for  the  use  of  the 
company,  a  thousand  acres  of  land  were  granted  .  >' 
the  government  of  the  colony.*  Captain  Keayne  \v  j  > 
a  liberal  donor  to  Harvard  College,  soon  after  it  was 
founded.  And  at  his  death,  which  happened  a  few 
years  after  his  arrival  in  the  colony,  he  made  other 
bequests  for  public  purposes. 

KENDRICK,  Captain  JOHN  of  Newton,  in  Mas- 
sachusetts, was  an  intelligent,  enterprising  ship-mas- 
ter, and  sailed  several  years  from  Boston  into  the 
Pacific  ocean,  and  to  the  north-west  coasts  of  Amer- 
ica. The  first  voyage  he  made  to  that  sea,  and  to 
the  north-west  coasts,  was  in  1786-87,  in  the  em- 
ployment of  J.  &  T.  H.  Perkins.  This  was  the  first 
enterprize  of  the  kind  to  those  parts,  from  the 
22 


254 


JOHN  KENDRICK. 


United  States;  but  some  vessels  were  fitted  out 
from  Salem,  for  Canton  direct,  about  the  same  time. 
There  were  two  vessels  in  this  enterprizc,  one  a  ship, 
called  the  Columbia,  commanded  by  Captain  Ken- 
drick  in  person,  with  Joseph  Ingraham,  (afterwards 
Captain  Ingraham,)  as  his  mate  ;  and  Captain  Gray 
commanded  the  other,  called  the  Washington,  which 
was  a  sloop.  Kendrick  took  command  of  the  sloop, 
when  in  the  Pacific,  or  on  the  north-west  coast,  and 
gave  the  ship  to  Captain  Gray ;  who  proceeded  to 
Canton,  and  thence  to  Boston.  The  sloop  visited 
the  Sandwich  Islands,  and  loitered  there  a  long  time ; 
and  made  a  less  profitable  voyage  than  she  might 
have  done.  The  sloop  also  visited  China,  and  car- 
ried what  furs  had  been  collected.  In  1791,  Cap- 
tain Ingraham  had  command  of  the  brigantine  Hope, 
of  seventy  tons,  owned  and  fitted  for  the  voyage  by 
the  Messrs.  Perkins ;  which  was  the  second  mercan- 
tile enterprize  from  Boston  to  the  Pacific  and  north- 
west coast.  In  this  voyage,  he  visited  several  islands 
in  the  Pacific,  which  he  concluded  had  not  been  be- 
fore discovered ;  for  they  were  not  noticed  in  a 
Spanish  map  made  at  the  close  of  the  sixteenth  cen- 
tury, soon  after  an  early  nautical  adventurer  of 
Spain  had  visited  that  bcean  ;  nor  by  Captain  Cook 
who  was  at  the  Marquesas  islpiids,  in  1774.  In- 
graham sailed  from  Dominica,  one  of  the  group  of 
islands  called  tho  Marquesas,  lying  in  latitude  9**  58' 
south,  on  the  19th  of  April  1791 ;  his  course  being 
about  N.  W.,  or  N.  N.  W.  Cook's  was  S.  W.,  and 
after  twelve  hours  sail,  he  discovered  two  islands, 
not  laid  down  in  his  map  containing  the  Marquesas 
and  vicinity.  To  these  Captain  Ingraham  gave  the 
name  of  Washington  and  of  Adams.  He  soon  after 
discovered  two  more,  which  he  called  Lincoln  and 
Federal.  Afterwards  he  discovered  three  others,  to 
which  he  gave  the  names  of  Hancock,  Franklin,  and 
Knox.    These  all  lay  in  about  latitude  8*  south,  and 


■■ 


RUFUS    KINtt. 


255 


ime  -, 

night 

.  car- 

Cap- 

Hope, 

igeby 

ercan- 

north- 

slands 

n  be- 
in  a 
cen- 
ter of 
Cook 
In- 

onp  of 
9«58' 
being 
.,  and 
slands, 
rquesas 
ave  the 
n  aftet 
In  and 
hers,  to 
lin,  and 
nth,  and 


141"  west  from  Enj^land.  Washington  was  about 
ten  leagues  in  circuit,  and  of  a  moderate  height. 
Adams  and  Federal  about  the  same.  Hancock  and 
Knox  not  quite  so  large,  and  north  of  the  others. 

In  1792,  Captain  Josiah  Roberts  of  Boston,  visited 
these  islands,  but  before  he  had  heard  of  their  discov- 
ery by  Captain  Ingrahlim;  and  gave  them  different 
names.  Captain  James  Magee,  an  intelligent  and 
active  ship-master,  commanded  the  first  Chma  ship, 
the  Astrea,  direct  from  Boston  or  Salem,  in  1789 ; 
owned  by  E.  H.  Derby  of  Salem,  but  the  cargo 
chiefly  by  the  Messrs.  Perkins  and  others  of  Boston ; 
and  T.  H.  Perkins  was  Supercargo.  In  1792,  Cap- 
tain Magee  sailed  to  the  north-west  coast,  and  thence 
to  China  ;  he  was  absent  nearly  three  years,  and 
made  a  great  voyage.  Captain  Barnard  Magee,  a 
brother  of  James,  commanded  a  ship  of  the  Messrs. 
Perkins  in  1799,  to  the  north-west  coast  of  America, 
where  he  was  treacherously  murdered  by  the 
natives. 

KING,  Hon.  RUFUS  was  born  at  Scarborough, 
in  Maine,  and  had  his  public  education  in  Harvard 
College,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1777.  He  read 
law  with  that  eminent  jurist,  Theophilus  Parsons  of 
Newburyport ;  and  began  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession in  that  place  in  1780.  In  1784,  when  under 
thirty  years  of  age,  he  had  a  seat  in  the  General 
Court  of  Massachusetts,  and  in  1785,  was  a  dele- 
gate to  the  Continental  Congress.  He  was  also  one 
of  the  four  delegates  from  Massachusetts  to  the  Con- 
tinental Convention,  holden  at  Philadelphia,  in  1787, 
to  propose  alterations  in  the  constitution  and  powers 
of  Congress ;  so  that,  that  Assembly  might  have  full 
and  complete  authority  in  all  foreign  and  national 
concerns.  When  the  constitution,  framed  by  that 
Convention,  was  submitted  to  the  people  of  the 
/Kveral  States,  Mr.  King  was  :v  member  of  the  Con* 


256 


JOHN  T.    KIRKLAND. 


Tendon  in  Massachusetts  for  that  purpose.  He  was 
an  able  advocate  for  its  adoption.  Soon  after  this 
time,  Mr.  King  removed  to  the  State  of  New  York ; 
and  was  the  first  senator  in  Congress  from  that 
State,  under  the  new  constitution.  He  continued  in 
this  high  station  several  years,  when  he  was  ap- 

E>inted  envoy  extraordinary  to  the  Court  of 
ondon,  in  1798.  After  his  return,  he  again  received 
the  appointment  of  senator  in  Congress;  and  in 
1825  was  sent  by  Mr.  Adams,  to  the  British  Court, 
as  minister  plenipotentiary.  But  the  feeble  state  of 
his  health  induced  him  soon  to  return  to  the  United 
States.  He  survived  but  a  short  time.  His  mem- 
ory is  honored,  as  of  one,  whose  patriotic  and  able 
services  for  the  country  in  various  important  stations, 
were  not  inferior  to  any  of  the  eminent  statesmen  in 
the  Republic.  He  belonged  to  that  school  and  class 
of  politicians,  in  which  are  found,  Washington, 
Jay,  Strong,  Bowdoin,  Trumbull,  Ellsworth,  Frank- 
lin, Hamilton,  Pinckney,  Pickering,  Brooks.  ^ 

KIRKLAND,  Rev.  JOHN  THORNTON  D.  D. 
L  L.  D.  was  a  son  of  Rev.  Samuel  Kirkland,  many 
years  a  laborious  missionary  to  the  Indians  in  the 
State  of  New  York,  from  17G0  to  1790.  Dr.  Kirk- 
land had  his  public  education  in  Harvard  College, 
and  received  his  first  degree  in  1789.  The  class 
was  large,  and  contained  many  good  scholars ;  but 
none  surpassed  him  in  solid  literary  acquirements  or 
in  brilliant  talents,  or  good  taste.  The  foundation 
of  his  character  as  a  scholar,  was  laid  in  his  early 
classical  education.  He  had  the  command  of  good 
language ;  pure  and  elegant,  without  artificial  orna- 
ment ;  and  his  elocution  was  superior  to  most  of  his 
contemporaries.  After  he  received  his  first  degree, 
he  engaged  sometime  in  teaching  youth ;  at  the 
same  time  giving  his  attention  to  theological  subjects, 
as  he  early  purposed  to  devote  himself  to  the  Chris- 


JOHN  T.   KIXKLAND. 


257 


88 

his 
rk; 
hat 
I  in 

^r 

i  of 

ivcd 

a  in 

otirt, 

iteof 

nited 

ncietn- 

.  able 

itions, 

nen  in 

1  class 

ngton, 

Frank- 


L  many 
in  the 

ICitk- 
JoUege, 
le  class 
^Ts ;  but 
nents  or 
mdation 
[is  early 

of  good 
[al  orna- 
Ist  of  his 
degree, 
at  the 

[subjects, 

\q  Chris- 


dan  ministry.  He  was  also  a  tutor  in  the  college 
before  he  received  his  second  degree.  In  the  latter 
station,  he  continued  more  than  two  years,  when  in 
February  1«'94,  he  was  ordained  as  pastor  of  the 
new  South  Church  in  Boston.  In  this  populous  city, 
he  had  an  opportunity  for  the  exercise  of  all  his 
talents,  as  a  writer  and  speaker.  A  great  portion  of 
his  hearers  were  of  a  literary  character  ;  and  he  be- 
stowed more  than  common  labor  in  preparing  his 
public  addresses.  His  labors  were  duly  appreciated, 
and  many  listened  to  his  sermons  who  seldom  heard 
any  from  others.  The  attention  of  the  young 
especially,  was  arrested  ;  and  they  were  impressed, 
as  well  by  his  powerful  appeals  in  the  cause  of  piety 
and  virtue,  as  by  his  elegant  composition  and  grace- 
ful oratory.  In  1810  he  was  chosen  president  of 
Harvard  College.  Dr.  Kirkland  presided  over  this 
ancient  University  for  eighteen  years,  with  a  high 
reputation  as  a  scholar,  a  governor,  and  a  gentleman. 
He  was  a  man  of  various  learning.  As  a  philan- 
thropist, as  a  grammarian,  and  as  a  mathematician, 
very  few  were  his  equals.  And  his  deportment  was 
so  pleasant  and  courteous,  that  his  admonitions  and 
orders  were  always  duly  received.  He  acted  as  the 
guardian  and  friend,  as  well  as  the  master  of  the 
students.  Dr.  Kirkland  was  very  discriminating  in 
his  judgment.  He  formed  truly  just  estimates  of 
the  characters  of  others ;  of  their  moral  qualities 
and  literary  attainments.  He  could  be  severe  in  his 
remarks  on  the  conceited  and  vain ;  but  he  was 
always  more  ready  to  do  homage  to  real  worth  and 
good  learning.  The  feeble  state  of  his  health  in- 
duced him  to  resign  the  office  of  president  in  1828. 
On  leaving  the  University,  he  made  the  tour  of ' 
Europe,  and  travelled  into  Syria  and  Egypt :  and, 
returning,  enjoyed  a  good  degree  of  health,  till  a 
few  months  before  his  death,  in  April  1841.  He  re- 
22» 


258 


T.   KITTHEDOE. — H.   KNOX. 


tallied  his  wonted  Ck  aermlness  to  the  close  of  life : 
as  a  companion  he  was  always  pleasant  and  in- 
structive. Dr.  Kirkland  published  several  occasion- 
al sermons ;  and  biographical  notices  of  Rev.  Dr. 
Belknap,  Hon.  Fisher  Ames,  General  Benjamia> 
Lincoln,  and  of  Professor  W.  D.  Peck. 

KITTREDGE,  Hon.  THOMAS  M.  D.  was  a 
citizen  of  Andover,  in  the  County  of  Essex,  and 
long  eminent  a»  a  surgeon  and  physician.  These 
two  practices  are  usually  united  in  one  person,  in 
New  England.  The  father  and  brothers  of  Dr. 
Kittredge  hare  been  greatly  distinguished  for  their 
successful  practice,  particularly  as  surgeons.  Dr. 
Kittredge  had  his  academical  education,  under  Mas- 
ter Moody  of  Byfield ;  and  studied  medicine  with 
Dr.  M.  Sawyer,  an  eminent  physician  of  Ntwbury- 
port.  He  began  the  practice  in  Andover,  in  1768 ; 
and  in  1775  he  received  the  appointment  of  surgeon 
to  the  regiment  commanded  by  Colonel  James  Fry  j 
and  raised  wholly  or  chiefly  in  the  County  of  Essex. 
He  did  not  continue  long  in  that  station ;  his  private 
business  probably,  induced  him  to  leave  the  public 
service.  There  were  also  a  great  number  of  young 
physicians  who  made  application  for  commissions  in 
the  army,  in  1776  and  1776.  Dr.  Kittredge  waa  an 
early  member  of  the  Massachusetts  Medical  Society; 
and  in  1.811,  received  the  honorary  degree  of  M.  D. 
from  Harvard  University.  He  had  a  seat  in  the 
legislature  several  years,  a  part  of  the  time  in  the 
Senate;  and  two  years  at  the  Council  board,  in 
1810  and  1811.  He  had  the  reputation  of  a  sincere 
republican,  an  honest  citizen,  and  a  skilful  surgeon. 
He  survived  to  the  age  of  seventy-two  years ;  and 
died  in  1818  suddenly,  of  angina  pectoris. 

KNOX,  General  HENRY   was  a  native  of  Bos- 


toi 
wa 

Ofi 

twt 

hea 

don 

the 

his  ( 

first 

man 

was 

this 

pany 

the  S( 

for  di 

his  aj 

ful  an 

well  I 

pousei 

in  17;;i 

As  ar 

alwayi 

him. 

Generf 

the  cc 

artillerl 

battle 

MonmJ 

guishec 

he  recc 

Washir 

for  hisi 

nation 

War,  in| 

office, 

ganizedl 

called  u 


SXXSSKiJiUtUiaSXSXA-.jmVI^ 


HENRY  KNOX. 


259 


ic«io 


BOB^ 


ton,  and  his  parents  were  of  the  laboring  class.  He 
was  sometime  in  his  youth  with  a  book-binder ;  but 
of  an  active  enterprising  spirit ;  and  before  he  was 
twenty-one,  opened  a  bookstore  in  Cornhill,  near  the 
head  of  State  street,  Boston.  It  was  called  the  Lon- 
don Bookstore ;  for  he  was  careful  to  have  most  of 
the  valuable  works  published  in  Ijondon,  for  sale  in 
his  collection  of  books.  His  store  was  visited  by  the 
first  people  of  the  town^  and  by  British  officers, 
many  of  whom  were  then  stationed  in  Boston.  This 
was  his  occupation  from  1770  to  1774.  But  during 
this  time  he  belonged  to  a  volunteer  military  com-f 
pany  raised  in  Boston  ;  and  was  the  third,  and  then 
the  second  officer  of  the  company.  When  it  paraded 
for  discipline  it  was  often  under  his  command ;  and 
his  appearance  as  a  military  man  was  very  grace- 
ful and  imposing.  He  was  six  feet  in  height,  and 
well  proportioned  in  his  whole  frame.  He  early  es- 
poused the  cause  of  liberty  and  of  the  country ;  and 
in  1775  received  a  commission  as  Colonel  of  artillery. 
As  an  officer,  he  was  brave  and  intelligent;  and 
always  ambitious  to  discharge  the  duty  assigned 
him.  In  1776,  he  had  the  appointment  of  Brigadier- 
General,  and  the  year  after  that  of  Major-General  in 
the  continental  army  ;  and  was  at  the  head  of  the 
artillery  department  to  the  close  of  the  war.  In  the 
battle  of  Germantown,  October  1777,  and  in  that  of 
Monmouth,  June  1778,  General  Knox  was  distin- 
guished for  his  promptness  and  activity  :  and"" 
he  received  the  particular  approbation  of  General 
Washington,  the  commander-in-chief  of  the  army, 
for  his  efficient  and  timely  efforts.  On  the  resig- 
nation of  General  Benjamin  Lincoln,  as  secretary  of 
war,  in  1784,  General  Knox  was  appointed  to  that 
office. — And  when  the  federal  government  was  or- 
ganized under  the  new  constitution  in  1789,  he  was 
called  to  that  office  by  President  Washington ;  but 


(t 


260 


HBNBY  KNOX. 


in  1794  he  resigned  it,  and  retired  four  sometime  from 
all  public  life.  In  1795,  he  became  an  inlmbitanv  of 
Maine,  and  built  a  spacious  family  mansion  on  St 
George's  river,  where  he  owned  a  large  tract  of  land. 
He  aiterwaids  held  a  scat  in  the  Exscuttve  Council 
of  Massachusetts  for  two  years ;  but  was  chiefly  en- 
eagod  m  cultivating  and  improving  his  landa  in 
Maine.  He  hsd  a  large  and  well  chosen  library  ct 
books ;  and  (onnd  time  to  read  a  good  deal :  and 
thus  acquired  e^t^nsive  information.  In  his  dispo- 
sition he  w'v?  |.'3nerons  and  benevolent,  in  bis  man- 
ners bland,  courteous  and  dignified.  He  died  in' 
1806,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six. 


spirij 
Amel 
arefj 
chus 


CHAPTER  X. 


LADD,  WILLIAM  was  a  native  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  had  his  public  education  in  Harvard  Col- 
lege with  the  class  of  1797.  He  engaged  in  mercan- 
tile pursuits,  and  went  several  distant  voyages,  as 
supercargo  or  captain.  He  early  discovered  his  dis- 
approbation of  slavery,  and  spoke  openly  and  in 
strong  terms  of  its  injustice,  and  its  incompatibility 
vrtth  the  spirit  of  the  Christian  religion.  Mr.  Ladd 
was  also  one  of  the  early  friends  of  peace  societies; 
and  was  indeed  one  of  the  most  efficient  members  of 
the  American  association,  designed  to  point  out  the 
evils  of  war,  and  to  maintain  peace  among  the  na- 
tions of  the  earth ;  and  for  several  years,  in  the  lat- 
ter part  of  his  life,  he  was  president  of  that  benevo- 
lent association.  He  was  successor  of  Rev.  Dr. 
Worcester,  who  had  also  been  a  zealous  and  devoted 
advocate  for  peace.  A  peace  society  was  formed  in 
Massachusetts  in  1815,  and  numbered  several  highly 
respectable  characters  as  members.  The  object  of 
the  society  is  to  show  the  unreasonableness  and  evils 
of  war ;  and  especially  its  inconsistency  with  the 
spirit  of  Christianity.  There  has  since  been  an 
American  Peace  Society  formed,  and  the  members 
are  from  different  States  in  the  Union.  The  Massa- 
chusetts society  has  become  merged  in  the  American. 


(i 


262 


J.    LANODON — 8.   LANGDON. 


Mr.  Ladd  was  indefatigable  in  the  cause  till  his 
death,  in  1841. 

LANGDON,  Hon.  JOHN  was  a  citizen  of  Ports- 
mouth, in  New  Hampshire,  and  among  the  early 
and  zealous  advocates  for  American  liberty  and  in- 
dependence. He  had  a  seat  in  the  Continental  Con- 
gress, in  1776,  as  a  member  from  New  Hampshire; 
and  was  several  times  elected  to  the  same  high  sta- 
tion. He  was  a  delegate  from  New  Hampshire  to 
the  General  Convention  in  1787,  for  forming  the 
federal  Constitution.  When  the  constitution  was 
adopted  by  the  States,  and  the  federal  government 
organized  under  it,  Mr.  Langdon  was  a  senator  from 
the  State  of  New  Hampshire ;  and  sometimes  acted 
as  Vice  President  of  that  truly  dignified  body.  He 
was  afterwards  Chief  Magistrate  of  New  Hampshire. 
And  in  all  these  responsible  stations,  he  discharged 
his  duty  with  ability,  and  to  the  general  acceptance 
of  his  fellow  citizens.  He  reached  a  good  old  age ; 
and  died  full  of  honors  as  a  useful  servant  of  his  na- 
tive State,  and  of  the  naticm. 

LANGDON,  Rev.  SAMUEL  D.  D.  was  a  native 
of  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire ;  and  had  his  edu- 
cation in  Harvard  College,  where  he  received  his 
first  degree  in  1747.  He  had  the  reputation  of  a 
good  scholar  from  his  youth,  and  was  respectable  as 
a  minister  and  preacher  of  the  gospel.  For  a  num- 
ber of  years  he  was  connected  with  a  church  and  so- 
ciety in  Portsmouth,  and  was  much  esteemed  by  his 
gsople.  In  1774,  he  received  the  appointment  of 
resident  of  Harvard  College,  as  successor  to  Mr. 
Locke,  who  resigned.  President  Langdon  had  more 
than  common  learning,  and  was  a  good  classical  and 
mathematical  scholar ;  but  deficient  in  energy  and 
firmness  necessary  for  a  governor  of  the  students. 
Finding  his  situation  unpleasant,  and  aware  of  his 


inij 

too 

Ha 

tion 

age 

dioi 

ipgU 

iishe 

Johr 

some 

hkei 

plain 

convi 

iruer 

probal 

secon( 

parts, 

andm 

LA' 

educat 
year  j; 

Lathro 

We,  Mi 

1634. 

and  coi 

continu 

theadi 

exelieni 

esteemc 

and  hU 

served 

his  mini 

time, 

conspici 

high  rej 

Vere  di\ 

called  it 


JOSEPH  LATHROP. 


263 


80- 

his 

M  of 

Mr. 

lore 

and 

and 

lents. 

if  his 


improper  lenitv,  he  resigned  the  office  in  1780,  and 
took  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  church  and  people  at 
Hampton  Falls,  in  New  Hampshire.  In  this  situa- 
tion he  remained  until  his  decease,  in  1797,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-five.  Dr.  Langdon  was  of  very  stu- 
dious hahits ;  and  his  information  extensive  on  theo- 
logical subjects  and  ecclesiastical  history.  He  pub- 
lished a  volume  on  the  prophetic  Revelations  ot  St. 
John — It  gave  evidence  of  learned  research,  and 
some  of  his  hints  are  ingenious  and  original ;  but 
like  all  other  writers  who  have  undertaken  to  ex- 
plain or  interpret  that  enigmatical  book,  he  failed  to 
convince  any  one  that  he  had  succeeded  in  giving  its 
true  meaning.  A  great  part  of  the  book,  at  least, 
probably  refers  to  events  which  occurred  in  the 
second,  third,  and  fourth  centuries;  while  other 
parts,  not  improbably,  relate  to  much  later  periods ; 
and  may  not  yet  have  been  fulfilled. 

LATHROP,  Rev.  JOSEPH  D.  D.  had  his  public 
education  in  Yale  College,  and  was  graduated  in  the 
year  1754.  He  was  a  descendant  of  Rev.  John 
Lathrop  (or  Lothrop)  the  first 'minister  of  Barnsta- 
ble, Massachusetts ;  and  who  came  to  Plymouth  in 
1634.  Dr.  Lathrop  was  ordained  over  the  church 
and  congregation  in  West  Springfield  in  1760,  and 
continu^  in  that  station  till  his  death  in  1820,  at 
the  advanced  age  of  eighty-seven.  He  was  "  of  an 
exellent  spirit,"  and  "  a  man  greatly  beloved"  and 
esteemed  for  his  many  amiable  traits  of  character, 
and  his  uniform  christian  virtues. — He  fully  de- 
served the  praise  of  fidelity  in  the  discharge  of  all 
his  ministerial  and  pastoral  duties ;  and  at  the  same 
time,  mildness,  candour  and  condescension  were 
conspicuous  in  his  whole  depoftment.  He  had  the 
high  reputation  of  a  peace-maker.  Where  ever  there 
vere  divisions  and  disputes  in  the  churches,  he  was 
called  in  to  advise  and  to  decide.    He  could  never 


264 


JOHN  LBDYARD. 


\ii 


be  charged  with  partjr  views ;  but  was  always  ja- 
dicious,  impartial  and  conciliating.  He  received 
the  degree  ofD.  D.  from  Harvard  University  in  181 1, 
and  also  from  Yale  College,  his  alma  mater.  His 
publications,  most  of  them  in  his  lifetime,  were 
very  numerous,  but  valuable — consisting  of  occa- 
sional discourses,  and  a  volume  of  sermons ;  the  lat- 
ter was  given  to  the  public  by  his  friends  after  his 
decease. 

LEDYARD,  JOHN  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Groton,  near  New  Londoir.  He  lost  his  father  when 
he  was  quite  young ;  but  his  relations  were  kind  to 
him,  and  gave  him  a  good  education ;  and  he  was  a 
short  time  in  Dartmouth  College,  but  did  not  remain^ 
the  usual  term  required.  He  was  principally  dis-' 
tinguished  for  his  foreign  travels  and  voyages ;  for 
which  he  discovered  a  fondness  in  early  life.  He 
entered  on  board  a  ship  for  London,  as  a  common 
seaman,  in  1771.  And  afterwards  he  accompanied 
the  celebrated  Captain  Cook  in  his  third  exploring 
voyage  into  the  Pacific  ocean,  in  a  humble  station, 
being  corporal  of  marines.  But  by  his  good  conduct, 
his  raithful  attention  to  duty,  and  his  intelligence, 
he  recommended  himself  to  the  commander.  It  was 
his  lot  to  witness  the  tragical  end  of  that  brave  and 
enterprising  officer.  In  1781,  he  returned  to  America, 
but  not  being  encouraged  in  his  plans  of  nautical 
enterprise,  he  visited  England  again  the  year  follow- 
ing. He  proposed  various  plans  for  visiting  and 
exploring  the  north-west  coasts,  and  the  northern 
parts  of  America;  but  they  failed.  He  however 
began  a  tour  through  the  extreme  northern  parts  of 
Europe,  to  the  eastern  part  of  Asia.  In  this  journey 
he  met  very  great  difficulties  and  dangers,  and 
suffered  almost  to  starvation.  By  remarkable  reso- 
lution and  perseverance,  he  reached  the  sea  of 
KTamtschatka ;  but  could  pass  no  farther  on  account 


of 

to 

dis 

affi 

anc 

futi 

dee( 

cou 

Jnn 

whi 

(hei 

was 

from 

accu 

ited, 

usefu 

and 

chara 

his  la 

to  the 

LE 

chusel 

Was  a] 

charac 

1679. 

import! 

tia;  af 

an  assil 

1673, 

council 

talents] 

admin  il 

unless 

cooduci 

people 

1679. 

and  a  PI 


JOHN    LEVERETT. 


866 


of  ice.  When  in  England,  he  had  the  good  fortune 
to  obtain  an  introduction  to  Sir  Joseph  Uanks;  who, 
discovering  his  intelligence  and  great  curiosity, 
afforded  him  pecuniary  aid.  By  advice  of  Sir  Joseph 
and  others,  Mr.  Ledyard  was  induced,  to  shape  his 
future  course  for  Egypt  and  Ethiopia :  he  had  in- 
deed, already  expressed  a  desire  to  visit  those 
countries,  tie  accordingly  sailed  from  London, 
June  1778,  and  visited  Alexandria  and  Cairo,  and 
while  preparing,  at  the  last  named  city,  to  prosecute 
the  residue  of  his  journey,  and  to  visit  Sennaar,  he 
was  taken  off  by  fever,  January  1779.  His  letters 
from  Alexandria  and  Cairo,  show  that  he  was  an 
accurate  observer  of  the  conntries  and  cities  he  vis- 
ited, and  led  his  friends  to  expect  much  curious  and 
useful  information  from  his  visits  to  Upper  Egypt 
and  Nubia.  Mr.  Ledyard  is  justly  deserving  the 
character  of  an  enterprising  and  energetic  man,  but 
his  labors  and  sufferings  were  really  of  little  benefit 
to  the  world. 


Ltwas 
re  and 
lerica, 
lUtical 
toUow- 
Ig  and 
Irthern 
jwever 
[arts  of 
mrney 
[8,  and 
|e  reso- 
sea  of 
Lccount 


LEVERETT,  Hon.  JOHN  came  early  to  Massa- 
chusetts, but  not  in  the  first  company,  in  1630.  He 
was  among  the  most  intelligent  and  public  spirited 
characters  in  the  colony,  from  1650  to  his  death,  in 
1679.  The  greater  part  of  that  period,  he  held  some 
important  office.  He  was  Major-General  of  the  mili- 
tia ;  a  member  of  the  House  of  General  Assembly ; 
an  assistant,,  or  counsellor,  for  several  years,  and  in 
1673,  he  was  elected  governor,  though  several  of  the 
council  were  older  than  he  was.  He  had  popular 
talents,  and  was  esteemed  able  and  upright  in  his 
administration.  Few  public  men  are  long  popular, 
unless  they  are  really  honest  and  impartial  in  their 
conduct.  Mr.  Leverett  received  the  votes  of  the 
people  for  governor,  from  1673  till  his  decease  in 
1679.  Great  lamentations  were  made  at  his  death ; 
and  a  public  funeral  was  ordered  at  the  expense  of 
23 


f  i' 

t 


266 


JOHN   LEVBBBTT — JORN  LILLIB. 


i| 


U. 


!  i 


the  government;  which  ia  stated  to  have  been  far 
more  impoting  than  common. 

LEVERETT,  Hon.  JOF  N  President  of  Harvard 
College,  from  1707  to  1724,  was  grandson  of  the 
former.  He  received  his  public  education  in  that 
seminary,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1680.  After 
he  received  his  first  degree,  he  remained  several 
years  at  the  college,  and  was  tutor  during  a  part  of 
the  presidency  of  Dr.  Increase  Mather.  Dr.  Mather 
was  absent  in  England  nearly  four  years,  from  1688 
to  1691 — And  Mr.  T^everett  and  William  Brattle, 
afterwards  an  able  preacher  of  the  Gospel  in  Cam- 
bridge, had  the  instruction  of  the  students  :  and  the 
college  flourished  highly  under  their  government. 
They  were  among  the  most  learned  men  of  their  age 
— and  both  members  of  the  Royal  Society  in  Lon- 
don. Mr.  Leverett  was  sometime  a  member  and 
speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  a  judge  of 
probate,  and  a  justice  of  the  superior  court  of  Massa- 
chusetts. He  was  one  of  the  most  accomplished  and 
popular  men  of  his  day.  And  his  probity  was  equal- 
ly conspicuous  as  his  learning  and  talents.  On  the 
death  of  Rev.  Samuel  Willard,  in  1707,  he  was 
elected  president  of  the  college,  and  continued  in  that 
very  important  station  until  his  death,  in  1724.  His 
eulogists  represent  him  as  a  man  of  vast  learning 
and  of  genuine  piety.  Dr.  Appleton,  in  a  funeral 
discourse  a  few  days  after  the  death  of  President 
Leverett,  said,  "  he  was  a  pillar  both  of  the  Church 
and  State,  an  honor  and  ornament  to  society,  and 
the  glory  of  New  England." 

LILLIE,  Captain  JOHN  was  a  native  of  Boston, 
born  about  the  year  1752 ;  and  having  received  a 
good  common  school  education,  was  apprenticed  to 
a  cooper.  Soon  after  the  war  of  the  Revolution  be- 
gan, he  entered  the  army'as  a  lieutenant  of  artillery; 


men 
Yorl 

openf 
was 
two 
&ont| 

part, 


JOHN   LILLIS. 


267 


and  at  the  cloae  of  the  war,  held  a  captain's  com* 
mission ;  and  was  sometime  also  aid  to  Major-Gen> 
eral  Henry  Knox,  who  was  at  the  head  of  the  artillery 
department.  The  military  service  of  Captain  Lillie, 
during  the  war  for  liberty  and  independence,  as  given 
in  a  letter  to  a  superior  military  officer,  after  the  war 
was  over,  is  as  follows — and  many  other  officers  of 
the  American  patriot  army  of  1775  and  1783  could^ 
probably  have  given  similar  relations :  "I  fought 
with  you  often  in  the  same  field,  and  bore  with  you 
the  hardships  and  misfortunes  which  the  incidents  of 
war  called  us  to  encounter.  It  \vas  my  lot  to  be 
sometimes  with  a  gallant  regiment  from  Maryland, 
commanded  by  the  brave  Colonel  Small  wood,  and  to 
see  it  wasted  away  by  fatigues  and  hard  fightings  in 
defending  the  country.  Too  well,  and  with  pain  do  I 
recollect  many  brave  officers  of  that  corps  falling  by 
our  sides ;  and  it  seemed  as  if  we  were  designated  as 
targets  for  the  enemy  to  fire  at.  But  thank  Heaven, 
some  of  us  still  live  (1799)  to  repeat  the  tale  of 
events,  and  condole  with  each  other  on  the  past  catas- 
trophe— If  my  services  in  the  action  on  liong  Island, 
(1776,)  and  assisting  in  the  retreat  from  a  very  formi- 
aable  British  army — If,  with  six  men  in  a  small  boat, 
after  the  evacuation  of  Governor's  Island  by  our 
troops,  I  went  over,  unspiked  some  of  the  caimon,  fired 
on  the  Roebuck,  of  forty-four  guns,  obliging  her  to 
slip  her  cables  and  retire  to  Staten  Island,  by  which 
means  we  went  over  in  the  night  with  an  hundred 
men  and  brought  off  all  the  guns  and  stores  to  New 
York — ^If  the  service  performed  with  two  twelve 
pounders  in  cannonading  the  Rose  ship,  from  an 
open  field,  when  commanded  by  Commodore  Wallis, 
was  of  any  utility  to  our  cause — If  by  assisting  with 
two  six  pounders  in  defending  Chatterton's  Hill,  in 
firont  of  White  Plains,  four  hours,  in  presence  of  the 
whole  English  army,  where  you  acted  well  your 
part,  and  so  many  brave  men  of  your  regiment  fell 


268 


JOHN  LILLIE. 


by  our  sides — If,  on  our  retreat  through  the  mire  of 
New  Jersey,  bootless,  and  scarcely  a  shoe,  when  the 
soldiers  were  so  disheartened  that  a  whole  brigade  of 
militia  to  which  I  was  then  annexed,  deserted  me 
in  one  night,  leaving  my  artillery  without  protection 
except  a  small  band  of  veterans,  which  with  some  ad- 
dress I  kept  together  by  my  company — If  on  that 
memorable,  that  most  important  night  for  America, 
when  her  liberty  or  bondage  was  vibrating  by  a 
silken  thread,  1  did  my  duty  at  the  attack  of  Tren- 
ton ;  that  night  which  may  almost  be  said  sealed  the 
independence  of  our  country — If  in  the  advance  of 
the  army  to  Princeton,  almost  barefooted,  over 
frozen  ground,  where  the  brave  General  Mercer  fell, 
a  few  feet  from  my  side,  in  the  first  of  the  attack — 
If  at  Chadsford,  on  the  Brandy  wine,  I  sustained  the 
heat  of  the  action  and  brought  off  my  artillery  safe 
— If,  on  that  dark,  dismal  night,  at  the  Paolis,  with 
General  Wayne  and  twelve  hundred  men,  three  hun- 
dred of  whom  were  massacred,  r.t  the  recollection  of 
which  the  eye  of  humanity  must  ever  weep,  I 
brought  off  my  artillery  through  morasses  and 
woods,  after  having  been  surrounded  by  the  enemy  ; 
and  beiug  in  front  of  the  column  with  General 
Wayne,  in  the  attack  of  Germantown,  where  we 
drove  the  grenadiers  and  guards  nearly  three  miles,  I 
supported  a  soldier's  character  through  the  day — If  on 
that  melting  Sunday,  in  addition  to  my  other  duties, 
at  Monmouth,  I  took  the  first  prisoner  by  single 
combat,  a  Sergeant  of  grenadiers,  with  his  arms,  and 
brought  him  to  General  Lee,  from  whom  we  received 
early  information  of  the  enemy's  position  and  strength 
— If,  at  the  close  of  eight  years'  service,  as  far  as  1 
know  my  own  heart,  1  sheathed  a  sword  without  a 
tarnish  by  dishonor,  which  Tiad  been  the  companion 
of  my  toils  during  that  period — If  still  retaining  an 
inflexible  attachment  for  my  country,  its  constitution 
and  laws,  with  a  desire  to  defend  it,  when  necessary, 


BIMJAMDI    UNOOLN. 


299 


against  all  its  enemies — ^If  there  is  any  merit  in 
these  transactions,  I  would  only  claim  my  little  share, 
by  having  done  the  duty  assigned  me  on  the  theatre 
of  the  late  war." 

This  letter  was  addressed  to  General  Samuol 
Smith  of  Maryland,  then  a  member  of  Congress. 
Major  Lillie  soon  after  received  an  appointment  as 
chief  officer  of  the  military  post  at  West  Point,  and 
died  soon  after.  His  statement  was  true  to  the 
letter,  without  undue  boasting,  or  high  coloring. 

LINCOLN,  Major-Genebal  BENJAMIN  was 
born  in  Hingham,  1733,  and  engaged,  with  spirit  and 
resolution,  in  the  political  contest  with  Great  Britain 
in  1775,  and  in  the  dispute  which  immediately  pre- 
ceded the  Revolution.  His  father  was  a  Justice  of 
the  Peace,  a  Representative,  and  a  Counsellor,  sev- 
eral years.  The  son  had  a  commission  for  the  peace 
in  1762,  a  proof  of  his  good  character  and  his  general 
intelligence,  when  under  the  age  of  thirty.  He  gave 
early  indications  of  a  fondness  for  military  life ;  for 
such  a  military  life  at  least  as  might  be  proper  for  com- 
mand in  the  militia.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two,  he 
was  made  Adjutant  of  a  regiment  in  the  county  of  Suff 
folk,  commanded  by  his  father  :  and  in  1772  he  was 
appointed  Lieutenant  Colonel  of  the  same  regiment. 
He  was  also  a  member  of  the  General  Court  from 
Hingham  before  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  Colonel 
Lincoln  was  a  delegate  to  the  Provincial  Congress  of 
Massachusetts  at  Concord,  October  1774;  and  was 
chosen  the  first  secretary  of  that  patriotic  assembly^ 
He  was  also  secretary  of  the  second  Congress,  in 
February  1775,  w^ich  convened  at  Cambridge;  and 
of  the  third,  at  Watertown,  in  May  1775,  when  a 
a  House  of  Representatives  was  chosen  to  take  place 
of  the  Provincial  Congress.  And  in  February  1776, 
he  was  appointed  a  Brigadier-General ;  and  in  May 
following,  Major-General  of  militia ;  in  which  sta- 
23* 


270 


BENJAMIN  LINCOLN. 


tiou  there  was  then  rouch  arduous  service  to  be  per- 
formed, in  organizing  and  equiping  the  men  belong- 
ing to  the  several  regiments.  In  1776,  when  General 
Washington  marched  with  the  main  army  to  New 
York,  to  meet  the  British  troops  there  then  landed, 
General  Lincoln  had  the  command  given  him  of  all 
the  militia  stationed  at  and  nea^'  Boston  harbor,  for 
the  defence  of  the  town,  and  the  country  in  the  vi- 
cinity. Several  regiments  were  in  the  field  here, 
during  the  spring  and  summer  of  1776.  Washington 
soon  discovered  the  character  of  Lincoln,  as  a  brave, 
and  resolute,  yet  cautious  and  judicious  officer ;  and 
one  worthy  of  all  confidence  and  trust.  This  opin- 
ion was  retained  through  the  war.  Washington,  as 
well  as  others,  considered  General  Lincoln  as  well 
qualified  to  command  the  whole  army,  should  he 
himself  be  taken  away.  In  many  respects,  however, 
he  had  an  equally  high  opinion  of  General  William 
Greene,  of  Rhode  Island.  In  1777,  Lincoln  received 
a  commission  from  Congress  as  Major-General  in  the 
Continental  army  :  and  soon  after,  was  sent  to  take 
command  of  the  northern  army,  under  General  Gates, 
to  oppose  the  advances  of  Burguoyue,  the  British 
General,  then  marching  from  Canada  to  form  a  junc- 
tion with  the  British  main  army  at  New  York. — 
General  Lincoln  rendered  essential  service  in  that 
campaign,  in  organizing  the  militia  recruits,  as  they 
joined  the  continental  troops.  These  troops  proba- 
bly decided  the  fortune  of  that  campaign  ;  and  no 
one  was  better  qualified  to  place  them  where  they 
could  perform  efticicnt  service,  than  General  Lincoln. 
General  Washington  said,  when  he  sent  Lincoln  to 
join  that  army,  that  "  it  is  necessary  to  have  a  de- 
termined officer."  He  found  that  he  was  not  mis- 
taken in  his  man.  General  Lincoln  was  wounded 
in  the  leg  at  this  time,  when  in  an  exposed  situation ; 
and  after  the  capture  of  the  British  army,  under 
General  Burguoyne,  he  retired  to  his  family  for  some 


■■'.^Sf 


BENJAMIN    UNCOLN. 


271 


months,  till  he  was  restored.  The  year  following, 
when  he  was  able  to  join  the  army,  though  not  en- 
tirely cured  of  his  wound,  he  was  appointed  to  com- 
mand the  American  forces  in  the  Southern  depart- 
ment ;  understood  to  be  at  the  particular  reque-t  of 
the  members  of  Congress  from  South  Carolina.  The 
British  troops  had  great  sway,  at  that  time  in 
Georgia  and  South  Carolina  ;  and  many  of  the  citi- 


zens were  discouraged, 
larger  additions  to  their 


The  enemy  also 
army,  soon  after 


received 
Lincoln 


reached  Savannah,  thus  making  their  force  much 
stronger  than  the  American  :  But  still,  as  command- 
er, he  was  active  and  indefatigable  in  collecting  men 
and  supplies,  to  meet  the  Briiish  in  case  of  attack, 
and  to  afford  protection  to  the  inhabitants.  General 
Lincoln,  was  unfortunate  in  an  attack  he  made 
on  the  enemy,  by  some  apparent  defect  of  proper 
caution ;  he  was  surprised,  and  forced  to  retreai  with 
great  loss  j  nearly  one  third  of  his  men.  In  a  ser;o^.d 
attack  made  on  the  enemy  in  South  Carolina,  a  to  vr 
months  after,  he  was  equally  unsuccessful ;  and  his 
little  army  sustained  a  severe  loss.  In  these  in- 
stances, General  Lincoln  discovered  great  bravery ; 
and  it  was  not  thought  proper  to  attack  ihj  Brit- 
ish, for  they  were  most  powerful ;  and  he  was  ob- 
liged to  retreat  with  loss. 

After  this,  he  found  it  necessary  to  pass  iato  South 
Carolina,  and  to  entrench  himself  in  Charleston. 
The  French  fleet,  which  sometime  co-operated  with 
him  in  Georgia,  had  now,  October  1779,  sailed  for 
the  West  Indies.  General  Lincoln  defended  Charles- 
ton with  great  spirit  and  bravery  for  several  months 
against  the  assault  of  a  large  body  of  British  troops, 
who  besieged  it ;  and  would  have  held  out  much 
longer,  but  the  inhabitants  repeatedly  urged  him  to 
surrender,  to  prevent  the  greater  destruction  of  prop- 
erty and  life.  The  extraordinary  fatigues  he  en- 
dured, and  a  southern  climate  injured  his  health, 


III 


272 


LEVI   LINCOLN. 


and  he  returned  to  his  family  in  the  north.  He  was 
at  the  capture  of  Lord  Cornwallis  in  1781 ;  and 
was  appointed  by  Washington  to  receive  the  sword 
of  the  vanquished  General,  on  that  occasion.  In 
1781,  General  Lincoln  was  appointed  Secretary  of 
War,  by  the  continental  Congress ;  and  held  that 
place  two  years,  when  he  returned  again  to  his  fam- 
ily. The  war  was  now  closed ;  and  there  was  no 
necessity  for  his  devoting  himself  to  the  public  ser- 
vice. When  a  dangerous  insurrection  occurred  in 
Massachusetts,  in  1786,  General  Lincoln  was  ap- 
pointed to  command  the  militia  to  subdue  it.  He 
united  great  firmness  and  courage  with  forbearance 
and  humanity  ;  and  no  one  was  better  fitted  to  have 
military  command  in  such  a  case.  By  his  pro^^pt- 
ness,  the  insurgents  were  soon  quelled  or  dispersed, 
and  tranquillity  was  restored  to  the  Commonwealth. 
He  was  Lieutenant  Governor  of  the  State  in  1787. 
When  the  federal  government  was  organized  under 
the  constitution  of  1788,  President  Washington  gave 
General  Lincoln  the  office  of  Collector  of  the  customs 
for  Boston,  a  very  lucrative  and  honorable  office, 
which  be  held  till  near  his  death  in  1810.  General 
Lincoln  was  a  correct  writer.  Several  important  pa- 
pers written  by  him  on  agriculture,  on  the  character 
of  the  Indians,  &c.  were  published  and  well  received. 
He  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven. 


LINCOLN,  Hon.  LEVI  was  a  native  of  Hingham, 
and  received  his  public  education  in  Harvard  Col- 
lege, where  he  had  h-»  first  degree  in  1772. — He 
chose  the  legal  profession,  and  early  settled  in  Wor- 
cester. — He  was  clerk  of  the  (^"ourt  for  that  Cou«ty 
in  1775,  and  m  177$.  the  Judge  of  Probate,  iie 
had  a  seat  in  the  Senate  of  Massachusetts  in  171/17 
and  in  1801,  was  elected  aaember  of  CV>ngress.  'Fbe 
same  year,  he  was  app-^^nted  Attorney  Gerieral  of 
ijj;^  United  States.     In  IbOB^  he  had  a  seat  at  tim 


WILLIAM   LITHOOW. 


273 


council  board,  as  Lieutenant  Governor ;  and  Chief 
Magistrate  part  of  thut  year,  after  the  death  of  Gov- 
ernor Sullivan. — In  his  religious  opinions,  Mr.  Lin- 
coln ranked  with  the  more  liberal  part  of  the  chris- 
tian community.  When  Dr.  Bancroft  was  ordained 
over  an  independent  church  and  society  in  Worces- 
ter, in  1780,  which  was  essentially  Unitarian,  he 
took  an  active  part  in  the  settlement ;  and  he  lived  to 
see  the  society  increase  and  prosper  equal  to  his  high- 
est expectations.  Mr.  Lincoln  died  in  1820,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-one.  In  the  domestic  relations,  Mr. 
Lincoln  was  highly  estimable ;  a  kind  and  faithful 
husband,  an  affectionate  father,  desirous  of  the  im- 
provement and  respectability  of  his  children.  The 
character  of  the  sons  reflect  honor  on  the  memory  of 
the  parent. 

LITHOOW,  Hon.  WILLIAM  was  born  in 
Georgetown,  on  Kennebec  river,  and  near  the  spot 
occupied  by  Popham  and  company,  who  made  a 
temporary  settlement  there  in  1G07.  The  father  of 
Mr.  Lithgow  was  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  for  the  county  of  Lincoln  for  several  years. 
The  son  was  an  ardent  patriot  in  the  memorable 
period  of  1775.  He  had  the  commission  of  a  Major 
in  the  continental  army,  in  1776 — and  was  in  the 
Northern  army  when  General  Burgoyne  was  cap- 
tured, in  October  1777.  In  one  of  the  attacks  on 
the  British  army,  before  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne, 
he  was  badly  wounded  in  the  right  arm. — After  the 
war,  Major  Lithgow  studied  law,  and  engaged  in  the 
practice  in  the  county  of  Lnicoln.  In  1787,  he  was 
a  senator  from  that  county  :  and  soon  after  was 
appomted  Major-Genorul  ol  niiliiia.  In  1791,  he 
received  a  commission  as  attorney  for  the  United 
States,  for  the  District  of  Maine.  ^I'liis  otlice  he  held 
till  his  death,  in  1796,  at  the  age  of  forty-five.     He 


i  1 


274 


G.   LITTLE. — J.   LLOYD. 


W 


I: 


wat  highly  esteemed  by  all  his  acquaiutance  as  an 
honorable  and  well  principled  man. 

LITTLE,  Captain  GEORGE  was  a  native  of 
Marshfield,  in  the  County  of  Plymouth,  and  of  an 
ancient  and  respectable  family.  Soon  after  the 
commencement  of  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  he  had 
command  of  an  armed  vessel,  belonging  to  the  Striate 
of  Massachusetts :  and  performed  some  daring  feais, 
for  which  he  received  high  praise,  as  a  man  of 
courage  and  resolution.  He  continued  in  the  naval 
service  during  the  greater  part  of  the  war.  In  1798, 
when  the  French  coniLutted  depredations  on  the 
commerce  of  the  United  States,  and  threatened  war, 
Captain  Little  received  the  command  of  a  national 
frigate,  and  took  several  armed  ships  belonging  to  the 
French.  Two  years  after,  he  resigned  his  public 
station  and  retired  to  his  farm.  He  was  a  benevo- 
lent and  honorable,  as  well  as  a  brave  man.  And 
many  years  near  the  close  of  his  life,  he  was  a 
worthy  member  of  the  Christian  Church  in  North 
Marsh  field. 

LLOYD,  Hon.  JAMES  L  L.  D.  was  a  son  of 
Dr.  James  Lloyd,  an  eminent  physician  of  Boston, 
and  received  his  preparatory  classical  education  in 
that  town ;  anr-  a  1'  ?^7  took  his  first  degree  in  Har- 
vard College,  lie  early  engaged  in  mercantile  pur- 
suits, and  becp.Tie  dislinguisli  d  in  that  profession. 
No  one  of  his  ii,ne,  or  since,  was  better  entitled  to 
the  character  of  an  intelligent  merchant.  He  visited 
Europe,  and  derived  no  little  profit  from  the  informa- 
tion acquired  in  his  residence  in  that  part  of  the 
world.  His  knowledge  of  commerce  was  much  in- 
creased by  the  visit.  After  the  age  of  forty,  Mr. 
Lloyd  engaged  in  political  inquiries  and  concerns. 
At  that  period,  every  patriotic  citizen  took  an  interest 


»AAO  LOTUBOP. 


275 


a 


of 


in 
Lar- 
)ur- 
sion. 
to 
sited 
tma- 
the 
in- 
Mr. 
jrus. 
srest 


in  the  affaiips  of  the  country.  And  in  a  free  govern- 
ment, indeed,  there  never  is  a  time,  perhaps,  when 
a  good  citizen  may  neglect  attention  to  measures 
necessary  for  the  public  welfare  and  prosperity. 
Mr.  Lloyd  was  a  member  of  the  House  and  of  the 
Senate  of  the  Massachusetts  legislature  as  early  as 
1800.  And  in  1807  was  elected  senator  in  the  Con- 
gress of  the  United  States.  He  remained  in  this 
high  and  honorable  station  several  years,  when  the 
feeble  state  of  his  health  induced  him  to  resign  it. 
After  this,  Mr.  Lloyd  was  again  chosen  into  the 
Senate  of  the  United  States,  but  his  health  was  still 
infirm,  and  he  did  not  continue  the  whole  ^term  for 
which  he  was  elected.  While  a  member  of  the 
Senate  he  was  particularly  attentiv  to  the  interests 
of  the  State  he  represented,  as  well  as  faithful  to 
those  of  the  whole  nation.  And,  from  his  intelligence, 
courtesy,  and  candor,  his  influence  was  command- 
ing with  his  contemporary  legislators.  Mr.  Lloyd 
died  in  1833,  at  the  age  of  sixty-four. 

LOTHROP,  Hon.  ISAAC  was  a  citizen  of  Ply- 
mouth, and  educated  in  Harvard  College,  with  the 
class  graduated  in  1726  Mr.  Lathrop  was  of  the 
fourth  generation  from  Rev.  John  Lothrop,  the  first 
minister  of  Barnstable,  who  came  into  Plymouth  col- 
ony in  1 634.  He  was  called  into  public  service  when 
young,  and  held  offices  of  trust  and  importance  until 
liis  death.  He  was  the  representative  of  his  native 
town  to  the  General  Court,  and  one  of  the  executive 
council :  and  for  some  of  the  last  years  of  his  life,  a 
Justice  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas.  He  also  held 
public  offi<!e  in  the  town  of  Plymouth.  He  died  in 
1750,  at  the  early  age  of  forty-two.  Few  men  were 
so  much  respected  and  beloved.  He  was  as  estima- 
ble in  private  life  as  he  was  honored  in  jfublic.  He 
had  the  character  of  a  benevolent,  honest,  public 
spirited  man  ;    and  at  his  death  there  were  great 


■■,lii"ii'"*':»i 


276 


JOHN  LOTHROP. 


lamentations,  and  public  addresses;  in  which  hia 
loss  was  deplored,  as  a  great  calamity  to  the  town, 
the  county,  and  the  province.  The  chief  justice  of 
the  court,  Mr.  Sever,  said,  "  he  was  blessed  with 
manv  valuable  endowments,  which  rendered  him 
highly  useful  to  the  Commonweath,  as  well  as  to  his 
family  and  friends.  Under  the  many  smiles  of  for- 
tune he  was  not  unduly  elated,  but  he  behaved  with 
great  modesty  and  good  temper.  He  was  indeed,  a 
gentleman  of  great  worth.  His  religion  and  piety 
were  undissembled  and  pure ;  and  such  as  gave  him 
repose  in  the  hour  of  death.  He  chose  rather  to  be, 
than  to  appear  good.  Hiii  character  was  unstained 
for  honor  and  virtue ;  of  great  humanity  and  good- 
ness in  the  temper  of  his  n:  ind.  He  was  our  brother, 
in  that  he  sat  in  judgmeLt  with  us  here.  He  was 
also  our  friend,  for  he  was  so  to  all  mankind." 
Judge  Oliver,  who  wi^s  then  on  the  bench  for  the  first 
time,  said,  "  integrity  wati  a  prevailing  part  of  his 
character.  His  hand  would  have  been  always  shut 
against  an  offer  to  betray  his  innocence,  if  the  severi- 
ty of  his  virtue  had  not  been  too  well  known  to  pre- 
vent any  one  daring  the  temptation  of  a  bribe. 
Bribed,  indeed,  he  once  was  :  but  it  was  a  bribe  from 
virtue  herself.  Her  pleasures  were  a  bribe  so  great 
as  to  retain  him  inflexible  in  her  cause,  and  to  ren- 
der him  deaf  to  all  other  addresses." 


LOTHROP,  Rev.  JOHN  D.  D.  descended  from 
Rev.  John  Lothrop,  first  minister  of  Barnstable, 
was  a  native  of  Norwich,  Connecticut,  and  had  bis 
public  education  in  the  College  at  Prmceton,  in  New 
Jersey  ;  where  he  was  graduated  in  1763.  He  was 
sometime  under  instruction  in  theology  with  Rev. 
Eleazer  Wheelock,  at  Lebanon.  In  1768,  Ik:  received 
ordination  as  pastor  of  the  secoad  Congregational 
Churdi  and  Society  in  Boston. — and  there  labored 
with  ^n^t  i^cej^tauce  and  success,  until  ju»  deAth, 


FRANCIS  C.    LOW£LL. 


2rr 


from 
litable, 
ltd  his 
New 
was 
Rev. 
jeived 
utional 
iboTcd 
I  death, 


in  1816.  During  this  |)eriod,  Dr.  Lothrop  belonged 
to  several  societies,  and  held  otlicqs  of  great  responsi- 
bility ;  and  he  was  always  ready  to  serve  the  in- 
terests of  religion  and  learning  in  any  situation. 
He  was  an  early  member  of  the  American  Academy 
of  Arts  and  Sciences,  and  of  the  Massachusetts 
Humane  Society.  He  was  long  a  nicnjbcr  of  the 
Board  of  Overseers  of  Harvard  College ;  and  several 
years  one  of  the  Corporation.  As  a  pastor  he  was 
attentive,  faithful,  and  sympathetic.  He  was  truly 
a  son  of  consolation.  His  theological  views  were 
liberal;  and  he  was  well  received  by  other  societies 
than  his  own,  when  he  preached  to  them.  He  sur- 
vived to  his  seventy-third  year  ;  and  was  the  oldest 
clergyman  in  Boston  at  his  death  ;  venerable,  courte- 
ous, and  candid.  His  attachment  to  civil  liberty 
was  evinced  on  various  public  occasions,  and  through 
his  whole  life.  He  delivered  patriotic  discourses  in 
1770  and  1776,  and  afterwards.  But  he  was  an  equal- 
ly zealous  advocate  for  constitutional  law  and  order. 
He  uniformly  gave  his  support  to  the  government  of 
Washington  and  Adams,  to  Gov.  Bowdoin,  Hancock, 
Adams,  Sumner  and  Strong.  His  voice  was  in  favor 
of  an  efficient  militia,  as  the  only  preventive  of 
anarchy,  and  of  a  standing  army ;  and  in  support  of 
common  schools,  as  necessary  to  prepare  youth  to 
be  true  and  intelligent  republicans. 

LOWELL,  FRANCIS  CABOT  a  son  of  Judge 
Lowell,  noticed  below,  was  educated  in  Harvard 
College,  and  received  his  degree  in  1793.  He  had 
an  uncommon  spirit  of  activity  and  enterprize ;  but 
united  with  caution  and  good  judgment.  He  was 
not  a  heedless  speculator.  He  made  deliberate 
calculations,  before  engaging  in  any  new  project  or 
unusual  line  of  business.  He  early  engaged  in  the 
establishment  of  a  factory  for  cotton  cloth,  in  Mas- 
sachusetts ;  and  made  it  a  profitable  business ;  thus 
24 


279 


JOHN  LOWELL. 


furnishing  an  example  and  an  inducement  to  others 
to  establish  factories  to  a  great  extent  in  the  State. 
The  factory  at  Walthara,  for  cotton  fabrics,  was 
ably  and  prudently  conducted.  Mr.  Lowell  often 
inspected  it  personally,  and  was  careful  to  employ 
persons  competent  to  the  business.  But,  although  a 
man  of  active  habits,  and  using  a  good  degree  of  ex- 
ercise, he  was  subject  to  dyspepsy  ;  and,  suifering 
several  years  from  this  most  discouraging  disease, 
fell  a  victim  to  its  ravages,  in  1817 — at  an  age  a  little 
past  the  common  lot  of  mankind,  being  forty>three. 

The  town  of  Lowell,  where  the  largest  manufac- 
ture of  cotton  cloths  in  Massachusetts  is  known,  re- 
ceived its  name  from  this  enterprising  man. 

LOWElii,,  JOHN  a  son  of  the  above  named 
Francis  0.  Lowell,  was  it  merchant  in  Boston,  in- 
terested also  in  the  factories  in  the  interior  of  the 
State,  ere<;ted  by  the  influence  and  the  funds  of  his 
father.  He  was  of  the  true  Boston  stamp  of  mer- 
chants :  enterprising,  intelligent,  and  honorable. 
But  the  feeble  state  of  his  health  induced  him  to 
travel,  when  he  was  little  more  than  thirty ;  and  he 
visited  Europe ;  and  thence  passed  into  the  western 
part  of  Asia,  and  into  Africa,  through  lower  and  up- 
per Egypt.  But  Lis  disease  was  too  deeply  seated 
to  be  eradicated.  He  died  on  the  second  year  of  his 
foreign  sojourning,  1836  ;  at  the  age  of  thirty ;  not, 
how  ever,  without  a  noble  expression  of  his  regard 
for  his  native  place  ;  the  influence  of  which  will  con- 
tinue to  bless  its  citizens  for  ages  to  come.  He  be- 
queathed two  hundred  thousand  dollars,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  supporting  several  courses  of  public  lectures, 
yearly,  on  science  and  literature,  religion  and  his- 
tory, by  the  most  learned  men  in  the  country.  All 
classes  of  the  people  have  the  privilege  of  attending 
these  lectures. — There  are  four  or  five  different 
courses  in  a  year,  consisting  often  or  twelve  lectures 


JOHN  LOWBLL. 


270 


)  others 
e  State, 
ics,  wai 
;ll  often 
employ 
hough  a 
e  of  ex- 
iuifering 
disease, 
;e  a  little 
r^three. 
lanufac- 
own,  re- 


3  named 
►ston,  in- 
or  of  the 
Is  of  his 
of  mer- 
onorable. 
d  him  to 
and  he 
western 
and  up- 
ly  seated 
3ar  of  his 
rty;  not, 
is  regard 
will  con- 
He  be- 
r  the  pur- 
;  lectures, 
and  his- 
itry.     All 
attending 
different 
e  lectures 


for  every  course.  This  is  a  great  privilege,  and  is 
■o  esteemed  by  the  people.  They  have  hern  attend- 
ed  by  as  many  as  can  be  convened  in  a  le  build- 
ing or  room,  in  the  city.  For  this  \  'sifuland 
popular  establishment,  the  mc^mory  oi  orous 

founder  must  be  cherished,  for  ages,  most 

grateful  and  respectful  sentiments. 

LOWELL,  Hon.  JOHN  L  L.  D.  son  of  Judge 
Lowell,  was  born  at  Newbury  port,  and  received  his 
education  in  Harvard  College,  with  the  class  of 
1786.  He  was  then  a  good  classical  scholar,  and 
afterwards  had  a  character  for  extensive  learning, — 
he  wielded  a  powerful  pen,  and  wrote  with  great 
point  and  piquancy.  Several  of  his  publications 
were  in  the  sty'e  of  the  severest  philippic;  and 
were  addressed  to  politicians,  whom  he  believed  cor- 
rupt or  weak.  Some  of  his  compositions  of  this 
character,  though  very  able,  had  little  effect,  as  they 
appeared  to  be  dictated  by  prejudice  or  party  feel- 
ings. He  was  much  opposed  to  the  war  of  1812, 
and  wrote  with  great  severity  against  those  who 
favored  it.  Mr.  Lowell  chose  the  profession  of 
law,  and  had  extensive  practice  many  years.  He 
was  also  a  representative  and  a  senator  in  the  legis- 
lature of  Massachusetts ;  and  had  uncommon  influ- 
ence in  each  of  those  bodies.  He  studied  theology, 
and  ecclesiastical  history  more  than  most  layman 
do,  and  published  several  pamphlets  in  favor  of  the 
mor^  liberal  class  of  Christians.  He  was  twelve 
years  a  member  of  the  corporation  of  Harvard  Uni- 
versity, and  no  one  perhaps  was  more  devoted  or 
more  attentive  to  the  interests  of  that  ancient  semi- 
nary. Mr.  Lowell  devoted  a  great  portion  of  time, 
in  the  last  thirty  years  of  his  life,  to  agriculture  and 
horticulture.  His  grounds  were  highly  cultivated ; 
and  he  took  pleasure  in  personal  attention  and  in- 
spection of  his  fruit  trees,  vegetables  and  shrubbery. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


^ 


% 


.V 


1.0 


I.I 


U|2£    |2£ 
■tt  Ui   122 

iM    12.0 


m 

u 


M 


1-25  H  1.4   ||.6 

* 6"    

^ 

I^otQgFaphic 

Sdaices 

Corporation 


^< 


-5^ 


i\ 


^^^^ 


23  WEST  MAIN  STMIT 

WIBSTER.N.Y.  I4SS0 

(7l6)t72-4S03 


'^ 


290 


JOHN  LOWELL. 


He  Studied  botany,  and  could  explain  the  subject  by 
detail  and  experiments  in  a  happy  manner.  Mr. 
Lowell  died  in  1841,  at  the  age  of  seventy. 

LOWELL,  Hon.  JOHN  L  L.  D.  was  a  son  of 
Rev.  John  Lowell,  of  Newburyport,  and  was  edu- 
cated in  Harvard  College,  with  the  xiass  of  1760. 
He  engaged  in  the  profession  of  law,  and  was  in  the 
practice  in  his  native  town  tijl  1777,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Boston,  and  there  entered  upon  an  exten- 
sive sphere  of  business  in  his  profession.  His  opin- 
ion on  the  subject  of  the  political  dispute  with  Eng- 
land, is  evident  from  the  confidence  his  fellow 
citizens,  in  the  patriotic  town  of  Newburyport,  re- 
posed in  him,  by  choosing  him  one  of  their  repre- 
sentatives in  1777.  In  1778,  the  year  after  he 
removed  to  Boston,  he  was  also  one  of  the  represen- 
tatives in  the  General  Court.  And  in  178^  he  was  a 
member  of  Congress  from  Massachusetts.  In  all 
these  stations,  he  proyed  himself  worthy  of  the  trust 
reposed  in  him.  He  was  intelligent,  active,  and 
judicious.  For  most  of  the  time,  however,  from 
1778  to  1789,  he  was  devoted  to  his  profession,  and 
rose  to  the  first  eminence  among  the  barristers  in 
the  State.  He  was  learned  as  a  jurist,  powerful  as 
an  advocate,  and  of  nndeviating  probity.  In  1789, 
when  the  federal  government  was  organized,  he  was 
appointed  the  judge  of  the  United  States  Court  for 
the  district  of  Massachusetts.  His  conduct  in  this 
office  was  highly  approved  ;  for  he  was  alike  prompt 
and  impartial.  In  1800,  he  was  appointed  Chief 
Justice  of  the  Circuit  Court  of  the  United  States, 
but  held  the  office  only  one  year  ;  in  1801,  the  Court 
was  abolished.  After  that  period.  Judge  Lowell  re- 
tired from  public  life,  and  spent  the  last  six  years  in 
the  society  of  his  family  and  friends :  respected  by 
all  who  knew  him,  and  endeared  to  all  who  were 
his  intimate  associates.    Judge  Lowell  pleaded  the 


JOHN  LOWBLL. 


281 


cause  of  an  African  held  in  slavery,  gratis,  before 
the  Supreme  Judicial  Court  of  Massachusetts,  in 
1783,  and  obtained  a  verdict  for  his  client.  An 
action  was  commenced  in  the  lower  court,  in  the 
County  of  Worcesfr^  1781,  (the  year  after  the  con- 
stitution of  the  State  was  aaopted ;  which  declares 
as  a  fundamental  and  universal  truth,  that  all  men 
are  born  free  and  equal,)  against  the  ovmer  of  a 
slave,  for  an  assault  and  battery  by  the  master. 
His  defence  was,  that  the  person  beaten  was  his 
slave,  and  he  might  strike  him  at  his  pleasure. 
The  master  was  convicted  of  an  assault,  and  fined. 
The  decision  of  the  court  was,  that  the  man  beaten 
or  assaulted,  was  not  a  slave,  and  that  no  law  of 
the  State  authorised  one  man  to  hold  another  as  such. 
From  that  time,  public  opinion  in  Massachusetts  was 
decidedly  against  slavery.  Those  few  who  contin- 
ued in  domestic  servitude,  did  so  voluntarily. 
24* 


CHAPTER  XI. 


M 


MANLY,  JOHN  a  naval  commander  during  the 
greater  part  of  the  Revohitionaryr  war,  was  a  citizen 
of  Marblehead,  in  Massachusetts.  He  was  an  ar- 
dent patriot,  and  engaged  in  the  service  of  the  coun- 
try on  the  sea,  at  a  very  early  period.  In  the  latter 
part  of  the  year  1775,  he  took  several  English  trans- 
ports bound  for  the  army,  under  General  Gage,  in 
Boston.  He  had  a  commission  as  commander  of  an 
armed  vessel  from  General  Washington,  with  author- 
ivy  to  attack,  capture,  and  bring  into  some  port  in 
Massachusetts,  any  British  vessel  he  might  meet. — 
The  vessels  he  captured  were  l  eat  use  to  the 
American  army ;  having  clothinj;  >.  woollen  goods, 
and  a  variety  of  military  stores.  His  success  was 
very  great,  and  his  praises  uttered  by  every  one  at 
that  period.  When  sometime  in  the  year  after,  a 
frigate  was  built  by  Massachusetts,  Capt.  Manly  re- 
ceived the  command  of  her.  But  his  usrual  success 
did  not  attend  him  in  this  larger  vessel.  He  indeed 
captured  one  large  ship  belonging  to  the  British ;  but 
meeting  with  a  ship  of  war  of  greater  force  than  the 
vessel  which  he  commanded,  he  was  taken  and 
thrown  into  prison,  where  he  sufiered  severely,  and 
was  detained  a  prisoner  a  long  period.  In  1782,  he 
was  again  entrusted  with  the  command  of  another 


J.  MANNING C.  MATHER. 


283 


frigate ;  but  sailing  to  the  West  Indies,  ho  unfortu- 
nately fell  in  the  way  of  three  British  ships  of  the 
line,  and  was  driven  ashore.  They  did  not,  howev- 
er, succeed  in  capturing  or  destroying  his  vessel. — 
They  cannonaded  him  two  or  three  days,  and  did 
his  vessel  some  injury,  but  he  made  his  escape  from 
his  formidable  enemy,  and  returned  to  Boston.  He 
was  destined,  lii^e  many  other  brave  men,  to  suffer 
prosecution,  on  charges  made  by  one  of  his  officers, 
which,  if  well  founded  in  part,  were  not  sufficient  to 
deprive  a  good  public  servant  of  all  praise.  Some 
improprieties'  of  conduct,  laid  to  his  charge,  were 
believed  to  be  true ;  but  not  such  as  to  prove  base 
and  dishonorable  motives,  nor  want  of  courage  as  a 
public  officer.  He  died  in  1793,  at  the  age  of  sixty  ; 
and  many  mourned  his  death,  as  that  of  one  who 
merited  the  gratitude  of  the  country. 

MANNING,  Rev.  JAMES  was  an  eminent  Bap- 
tist Clergyman ;  and  several  years  President  of  the 
College  in  Rhode  Island,  now  called  Brown  Univer- 
sity. Mr.  Manning  was  the  first  President  of  that 
institution,  when  founded  in  1770,  at  Warren.  He 
held  that  station  until  his  death  in  1791.  He  was 
respectable  as  a  scholar  and  a  theologian,  and  very 
acceptable  as  a  preacher.  For  several  years,  dfter 
the  college  was  removed  to.Providence,  he  sustained 
the  office  of  pastor  of  the  first  Baptist  Church  in  that 
town.  He  was  called  an  evangelical  preacher  ;  but 
he  was  more  catholic  in  his  opinions  than  most 
others  of  his  denomination.  He  was  occasionally  in 
public  political  iife ;  and  at  one  time  a  member  of 
Congress.  He  had  a  good  spirit  of  government;  and 
under  his  superintendence,  the  college  became  very 
prosperous  and  extensively  useful. 

MATHER,  Rev.  COTTON  D.  D.  F.  R.  S.  was 
son  oi  Rev.  Dr.  Increase  Mather,  and  received  his  first 


284 


INCREASE  MATHSB. 


degree  in  Harvard  College,  in  the  year  1678.  He 
was  very  studious  from  his  youth;  and  was  re- 
puted the  most  learned  man  in  Massachusetts.  He 
read  much,  and  had  a  good  memory  :  But  he  had 
less  judgment  than  his  father,  or  many  other  divines 
of  that  day.  He  was  also  vain  of  his  learning,  and 
ostentatious  and  pedantic  in  the  display  he  made  of 
it.  And  with  ail  his  learned  lore,  he  was  very 
injudicious,  and  often  decided  incorrectly  in  the  or- 
dinary concerns  of  life.  Ue  was  also  prone  to  su- 
perstitious opinions  and  apprehensions.  The  pre- 
tended witchcraft  at  Salem  was  fully  credited  by 
him ;  and  he,  in  fact,  urged  the  prosecution  of  many 
a  poor  ignorant  but  innocent  person,  even  to  the 
death,  as  having  committed  a  capital  crime,  re- 
nounced God  and  given  their  allegiance  to  the  Devil. 
This  was  a  sad  delusion  ;  and  jt  is  truly  surprising 
that  men  of  learning  should  have  fallen  into  such  an 
error.  Dr.  Mather  published  a  history  of  the  early 
churches  in  New  England,  with  biographical  notices  of 
eminent  men  of  the  first  and  second  generations;  and 
he  published  sermons  almost  without  number.  They 
make  a  great  display  of  learning,  but  he  wanted  good 
taste  and  judgment.  He  had  a  desire  to  dictate  or 
to  interfere  with  the  civil  affairs  of  the  colony.  He 
sought  to  influence  the  Governor  and  General  Court ; 
and  when  they  would  not  follow  his  advice,  he  was 
severe  in  his  censures.  Before  his  time,  the  clergy 
were  often  consulted  by  the  civil  magistrates ;  and 
some  of  the  former  were  willing  to  control  in  political 
as  well  as  ecclesiastical  affairs.  Dr.  Mather  did  not 
long  survive  his  venerable  father.  He  died  in  1728} 
at  the  age  of  sixty-six. 

MATHER,  Rev.  INCREASE  D.  D.  was  a  son 
of  Rev.  Richard  Mather  of  Dorchester,  and  educated 
in  Harvard  College,  with  the  class  of  1656.  He  had 
a  high  character  mi  learning,  and  was  an  able  then- 


JONATHAM  MAXEY. 


285 


logian.  He  settled  in  Boston,  at  the  north  part  of 
the  town,  over  the  second  congregational  society. — 
There  were  at  that  period  several  learned  divines  in 
the  colony  ;  but  none  were  superior  to  Mr.  Mather. 
He  was  made  Rector,  and  then  President  of  Flarvard 
College,  though  still  the  pastor  of  a  church  in  Boston. 
He  visited  England  in  1 688,  as  a  private  or  informal 
agent,  to  make  known  the  grievances  of  the  people 
under  the  arbitrary  administration  of  Sir  Edmimd 
Andros,  who  was  made  governor  in  December  1686, 
and  the  General  Court  discontinued.  He  was  the 
principal  agent  in  procuring  the  second  charter  for 
Massachusetts,  of  William  and  Mary,  in  1691 ;  which 
was  disapproved  on  some  accounts,  particularly  as  it 
provided  for  the  appointment  of  Governor  of  the 
Province  by  the  King,  instead  of  an  election  by  the 
people  in  the  Province,  as  had  been  the  case  under  the 
nriU  charter.  But  in  some  respects  the  second  char- 
ter was  better  than  the  first ;  as  it  expressly  guaran- 
teed liberty  of  conscience  in  religious  worship  and 
discipline,  and  provided  for  a  proper  judicial  tribunal 
separate  from  the  legislative  and  executive  branches 
of  the  government.  Mr,  Mather  acted  as  president 
of  the  college  several  years  after  his  return  to  Bos- 
ton ;  when  it  was  objected  to  him,  that  he  was  pas- 
tor of  a  church  at  a  distance,  and  could  not  therefore 
fully  discharge  the  duties  of  President.  He  left  the 
office,  however,  with  the  good  will  and  esteem  of  the 
governors  of  the  college  ;  and  about  this  time  received 
the  degree  of  D.  D.,  the  first  conferred  by  the  cor- 
poration of  that  literary  institution.  He  died  in 
1723,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four. 

MAXEY,  Rev.  JONATHAN  D.  D.  was  the  im- 
mediate successor  of  Rev.  Mr.  Manning,  as  President 
of  Brown  University.  He  had  received  his  educa- 
tion in  that  seminary,  and  was  among  the  most  dis- 
tinguished of  its  graduates.     He  was  elected  Presi- 


386 


JONATHAN  MAYHEW. 


1^ 


dent,  at  a  more  early  age  than  is  common,  but  his 
character  as  a  scholar  and  a  man  of  talents  was  very 
high.  He  wrote  with  ease,  correctness  and  elegance  : 
his  style  was  flowing  and  ornate,  yet  ochibiting 
much  energy  of  thought.  He  also  surpassed  most 
of  his  contemporaries  in  his  elocution.  He  remained 
only  a  few  years,  however,  as  President  of  Brown 
University.  He  accepted  an  invitation  to  be  princi- 
pal of  a  college  in  South  Carolina ;  and  accordingly 
removed  to  that  State.  But  his  health  became  in- 
jured by  the  climate ;  and  he  survived  only  a  few 
years,  after  his  removal.  The  views  of  Dr.  Maxey 
on  revealed  religion  were  similar  to  those  of  Rev. 
Dr.  Toulmin  of  England,  and  of  Dr.  Mayhew  and 
others  of  his  school  in  New  England.  He  was  an 
independent  and  honest  inquirer  after  the  truth  ;  and 
he  urged  the  right  and  duty  of  exercising  reason,  in 
judging  of  the  true  meaning  of  revelation.  The  sys- 
tem of  Calvin  did  not  receive  his  assent  nor  appro- 
bation. He  had  a  more  elevated  and  liberal  view 
of  the  Christian  religion;  believing  it  addressed  to 
man  as  a  rational  and  accountable  being ;  and  as 
designed,  not  for  the  exclusive  benefit  of  &jfew  ;  but 
for  the  enlightenment  and  improvement  of  all  man- 
kind.^ 

MAYHEW,  Rev.  JONATHAN  D.  D.  was  a  son 
of  Experience  Mayhew,  named  below ;  and  one  of 
the  most  able  theological  writers  of  his  time.  He 
was  born  in  1720,  and  received  his  public  education 
in  Harvard  College,  in  1744.  While  a  member  of 
the  College,  he  had  the  reputation  of  a  hard  student 
and  a  good  scholar.  •  His  age  was  then  such  that 
he  profited  probably  more  than  had  he  passed  his 
college  life  when  six  or  eight  years  younger.  After 
he  left  college  he  pursued  his  theological  studies 
with  great  industry :  and  was  settled  over  the  west 
Church  in   Boston,  in  less  than  three  years  after 


JONATHAN  MATHEW. 


287 


\,  his 
very 
ince : 
)iting 
most 
lained 
Jrown 
;)rinci- 
dingly 
ne  in- 
a  few 
Jdaxey 
f  Re\r. 
w  and 
vas  an 
h;  and 
ison,  in 
?he  sys- 
r  appro- 
pil   view 
>ssed  to 
and  as 
ew ;  but 
all  man- 


as  a  son 

id  one  of 

me.     He 
jdncation 

ember  of 
student 
juch  that 
assed  his 
BT.  After 
al  studies 
the  west 
ears  after 


taking  his  first  degree.  But  even  then,  at  the  age 
of  tventy-seven,  he  was  distinguished  for  strong 
and  discriminating  powers  of  intellect,  and  ardent 
and  benetolent  affections.  He  was  a  close  thinker, 
and  searched  any  subject  presented  for  discussion  or 
examination,  with  great  attention  and  thoroughness. 
Before  he  was  thirty  years  old,-^  he  published  several 
discourses,  on  the  "  right  of  private  judgment,"  and 
"  the  use  of  reason  in  examining  revelation,"  which 
gained  for  him  the  character  of  a  powerful  reasoner, 
and  an  able  defender  of  true  protestant  principles. 
These  discourses  were  re-published  in  England,  and 
gave  him  a  high  reputation  in  that  country,  as  a 
scholar  and  a  divine.  And  at  that  time,  when  he 
was  only  twenty-nine  years  of  age,  he  received  the 
degree  of  D.  D.  from  the  University  of  Aberdeen  in 
Scotland.  His  literary  industry  was  very  great; 
and  he  published  more,  within  fifteen  years  from 
the  time  above  mentioned,  than  any  individual  had 
done  in  America;  but  submitted  nothing  to  the 
press,  except  what  merited  publication. 

His  works  exhibited  great  reflection,  and  maturity 
of  thought  and  study.  His  perceptions  were  re- 
markably clear ;  and  his  attention  and  study  of  the 
subjects  of  his  consideration  far  more  close  and  tho- 
rough than  most  others.  But  Dr.  Mayhew  was  a 
faithful  pastor  and  impressive  preacher.  No  one  ap- 
peared to  labor  more  sincerely  for  the  spiritual  wel- 
fare of  his  people.  He  preached  to  them  in  season 
and  out  of  season.  He  was  desirous  to  have  them 
well  grounded  in  the  faith  of  the  gospel — to  be  real 
and  rational  believers.  And  to  be  duly  sensible  of 
their  obligations  to  all  holiness  and  virtue.  In  doing 
this,  he  often  spoke  comparatively  light  of  specula- 
tive faith.  His  doctrineswere  according  to  godliness, 
and  not  in  conformity  to'  the  creeds  of  fallible  men. 
For  this  independence  and  honesty,  he  was  some- 
times severely  censured;  but  it  did  not  move  him 


29S 


THOMAS    MAYHEW. 


from  his  high  purpose  of  learning  his  divine  Master's 
will  from  the  scriptures,  and  declaring  liiat  will,  and 
nothing  but  that  will,  as  necessary  to  salvation.  His 
principal  work  was  a  defence  of  the  Congregational 
form  of  government,  and  the  equality  ot  Christian 
ministers,  in  opposition  both  to  the'Church  of  Rome, 
^nd  of  England.  His  opponents  were  silenced,  by 
his  strong  reasons  and  arguments.  His  other  publi- 
cations were  numerous.  He  died  in  17C6,  at  the  age 
of  forty-six,  leaving  the  character  of  an  ardent  pat- 
riot, a  learned  theologian,  and  a  benevolent  man. 

MAYHEW,  THOMAS  came  to  Massachusetts  in 
1632,  and  resided  at  Mystic  sometime ;  but  in  1641, 
removed  to  the  Vineyard,  and  there  lived  to  a  great 
age.  He  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  on  that 
island,  of  the  native  Indians ;  and  always  lived  on 
friendly  terms  with  them. — At  that  time  they  were- 
very  numerous.  He  and  his  son  Thomas  early  en- 
gaged in  teaching  the  Indians  the  doctrines  of  Chris- 
tianity, and  made  many  sincere  converts.  They  be- 
gan their  labors  in  this  way  a  short  time  even  before 
Mr.  Eliot  of  Roxbury  preached  to  the  Indians.  The 
son  was  entirely  devoted  to  this  benevolent  object ; 
but  was  lost  at  sea,  when  on  a  voyage  to  England, 
when  he  was  only  about  thirty  years  of  age.  The 
father  attended  to  the  good  work  after  the  death  of 
his  son  :  and  he  instructed  several  of  the  Indians  so 
that  they  became  regular  preachers  to  their  brethren ; 
and  several  small  churches  were  formed  on  the 
Vineyard.  His  grandson  and  great-grandson  were 
also  religious  teachers  to  the  Indians,  and  were  hap- 
pily instrumental  in  promoting  the  spiritual  good  of 
many  of  them.  Rev.  Experience  Mayhew,  the 
father  of  the  learned  Dr.  Jonathan  Mayhew,  was 
also  a  teacher  to  the  tribe  of  Indians  at  Gayhead,  on 
the  Vineyard,  many  years.  He  was  a  man  of  talents 
and  learning,  and  published  a  work  with  the  title  of 


JOaPB    MOKIAN. 


289 


the 


"Once  defended;"  in  which  he  departed  some* 
what  from  the  Calvinistic  creed,  and  contended 
that  man  had  naturally  a  power  to  do  something 
towards  his  conversion  and  salvation.  It  was  scrip- 
tural and  rational,  yet  was  not  fully  approved  by 
tfiose  who  made  Calvin's  institutes  their  standard 
rather  than  the  Sacred  Volume.  Zachariah  May- 
hew  was  a  son  of  Experience,  and  the  last  of  the 
name,  who  acted  as  missionary  to  the  Vineyard  In- 
dians. He  lived  to  a  great  age,  and  died  in  the  year 
1802. 

McKEAN,  Rev.  JOSEPH  D.  D.  a  native  of 
Londonderry,  New  Hampshire,  and  an  alumnus  of 
Dartmouth  College,  in  Uie  class  of  1778,  was  several 
years  pastor  of  the  first  Church  and  Society  in  Bev- 
erly. He  was  settled  there  in  1782,  and  continued 
till  the  year  1802,  when  he  was  elected  president  of 
Bowdoin  Collegei  then  recently  founded  at  Bruns- 
wick, ii^  Maine.  CNr.  McKean  had  the  character  of 
a  good  scholar  and  a  correct  writer ;  and  was  a 
popular  preacher.  But  he  had  rather  solid  and  use- 
ful qualities,  than  brilliant.  He  discharged  the  im- 
portant duties  devolving  on  him,  both  as  A  clergy- 
man and  the  principal  of  a  literary  seminary,  with 
great  fidelity.  He  was  weii  qualified  to  be  at  the 
head  oi  a  college,  as  his  conduct  exhibited  equal 
mildness  and  decision,  moderation  and  firmness. 
Dr.  McKean  died  in  1807,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six. 

McKEAN,  Rev.  JOSEPH  D.  D.  L  L.  D.  was 
a  native  of  Boston,  and  after  a  good  classical  edu- 
catwd  in  liie  Latin  school  in  mat  town,  and  the 
usual  term  of  four  yeacs  as  «  student  in  Harvaxd 
College,  received  his  first  degree  &ere,  in  1794. 
Withm  quick  apprehension,  and  uncommonly  correct 
conceptions,  and  a  good  degree  of  application,  he  left 
the  wiiversity  with  the  leputation,  well-deserved,  of 
26 


290 


J08IPH    MCUAlf. 


ii 


t 


a  ripe  scholar,  and  giving  much  promite  of  fnture 
eminence.  He  spent  two  years  alter  leaving  college 
as  a  teacher  of  youth ;  and,  having  devoted  much 
of  his  time  to  theological  subjects,  chiefly  under  the 
directions  of  the  learned  Dr.  John  Eliot  of  Boston, 
he  begau  to  preach  a  short  time  before  taking  a 
second  degree,  and  was  ordained  over  the  Church 
ai^d  Society  in  Milton.  After  a  few  years,  he  found 
his  health  impaired;  and  at  his  request,  on  that 
account,  was  dismissed  from  the  pastoral  office  in 
that  place.  He  preached  occasionally,  however,  as 
his  health  would  permit ;  for  the  Christian  ministry 
was  his  deliberate  choice,  and  it  was  his  highest 
pleasure  to  impart  religious  instruction  to  his  fellow 
men.  He  knew  the  controUng  influence  of  Chri»> 
tianity,  and  wished  to  persuade  others  to  yield  to  its 
mild  and  purifying  spirit  For  about  nine  yeara^ 
from  1809  to  1818,  he  occupied  the  chair  of  professor 
of  rhetoric  and  oratory  in  Harvard  College;  being 
the  immediate  successor  of  Hon.  John  Q.  Adams. 
He  often  preached  during  this  period,  and  was  in- 
vited to  take  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  first  Church 
in  the  city  of  Boston.  But  his  health,  which  was 
still  precarious,  probably  prevented  his  accepting  the 
invitation.  He  visited  one  of  the  islands  in  the 
West  Indies,  for  the  recovery  of  his  health ;  but  the 
experiment  was  not  successful  in  the  object  proposed 
and  sought.  He  fell  a  victim  to  disease  in  1818,  at 
Uie  age  of  forty-two.  Dr.  McKean  possessed  strong 
powers  of  imagination,  as  well  as  good  taste  and 
rich  treasures  of  useful  learning.  His  compositions 
were  sometimes  labored,  often  ornate,  and  always 
indicative  of  an  ardent  temperament.  He  usually 
spoke  with  power,  and  made  an  impression  on  his 
hearers;  for  he  spoke  with  perfect  sincerity,  and 
from  thorough  conviction  of  the  truth  and  import- 
ance of  what  he  said.  He  published  several  ser- 
mons and  orations,  a  beautiful  memoir  of  his  friend 


p.    MILLKN — T.   MILT1LLE. 


991 


th«  Re7.  Dr.  Eliot ;  and  several  articles  in  the  Re- 
views and  Magazines  of  the  day.  ' ; 

MELLEN,  PRENTISS  L  L.  D.  was  a  native  of 
Lancaster,  and  received  his  public  education  in  Har- 
vard College,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1784.  He 
read  law  with  Mr.  Barrister  Bourne,  of  Barnstable, 
and  commenced  the  practice  in  Bridgewater;  but 
soon  removed  to  Portland.  He  had  an  extensive 
practice  as  a  lawyer  many  years  in  Maine  ;  and  at- 
tended the  judicial  courts  m  all  the  counties.  He 
was  an  able  jurist,  and  a  popular  pleader  at  the  bar. 
He  had  a  seat  in  the  supreme  Executive  Council  in 
Massachusetts,  and  also  in  the  Senate  of  the  United 
States.  In  1820,  when  Maine  became  an  indepen- 
dent State,  Mr.  Mellen  was  appointed  Chief  Justice 
of  the  hishest  judicial  tribunal  in  the  Common- 
wealth. He  presided  with  ability,  promptness,  im- 
partiality and  dignity ;  and  continued  in  that  im- 
portant station  until  he  was  seventy  years  of  age,  in 
1835,  beyond  which  the  constitution  did  not  allow  a 
judge  to  remain  in  office.  His  health  was  so  firm, 
however,  that  he  engaged  in  the  practice  after  re- 
tiring from  the  bench ;  and  as  a  counsellor  was  often 
consulted.  Judge  Mellen  died  in  1841,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-six.  He  enjoyed  the  friendship  and  respect 
pf  all  who  were  well  acquainted  with  his  character, 
which  was  that  of  a  learned,  benevolent,  public 
spirited,  and  religious  man. 

MELVILLE,  THOMAS  Esq.  had  his  public 
education  in  Princeton  College,  New  Jersey,  and  re- 
ceived his  first  degree  in  1769.  He  was  also  admit- 
ted to  a  degree  in  Harvard  College,  in  1773.  He 
early  settled  in  Boston,  and  was  an  enterprising 
merchant,  and  a  zealous  patriot.  He  joined  the 
resolute  band  of  young  men,  who  destroyed  the  tea 
on  board  two  British  snips  in  Boston  harbor,  in  De- 


292 


eBOROE  R.    MINOT. 


cember  1773.  The  peo{rfe  had  resolyed  not  to  buy 
or  use  tea,  as  there  was  a  high  duty  laid  upon  it,  to 
come  out  of  their  pockets,  for  augmenting  the  Brit- 
ish revenue,  and  not  for  the  benefit  of  the  Province. 
Nor  was  the  law  imposing  the  duty,  passed  by  the 
representatives  of  the  people  in  the  colony,  but  by 
the  parliament  in  England,  in  which  the  colonists 
had  no  voice  nor  representatives.  Every  effort  was 
made,  by  application  to  the  agent  and  factor  of  the 
owners  of  the  tea,  as  well  as  to  the  consignees^  and 
to  the  governor,  to  order  back  the  tea:  but  all 
proved  ineffectual ;  and  after  two  days  of  delay  and 
unsuccessful  application,  early  in  the  evening  of  the 
third  day  of  the  meetings  of  the  citizens,  a  body  of 
young  men,  about  sixty  or  seventy,  proceeded  to  the 
vessels,  and  cast  the  chests  of  tea  into  the  water  of 
the  bay.  No  personal  violence  was  done  or  offered 
to  any  one,  and  no  injury  to  the  vessels.  TlMre 
were  a  few  other  unlawful  acts  committed,  similar 
to  this,  by  the  citizens,  between  1765  and  1775 ;  as 
that  of  burning  the  effigies  of  Mr.  Oliver,  the  stamp 
distributor, — the  rescue  of  a  vessel,  seized  under  cir- 
cumsfances  of  great  provocation,  by  the  officers  of 
the  custcMns ;  and  the  injury  done  to  the  house  and 
papers  of  Governor  Hutchinson;  but  these  were 
perpetrated  at  a  time  of  great  excitement,  and  with- 
out the  countenance  of  the  leading  characters  among 
the  whigs.  The  one  most  wanton  and  most  regret- 
Qd,  was  that  committed  on  the  house  and  papers  of 
Governor  Hutchinson.  Mr.  Melville  had  a  commis- 
sion as  a  Major,  part  of  the  war  of  the  Revolution ; 
and  after  the  war  was  over  he  held  an  office  in  the 
department  of  the  customs,  several  years,  and  until 
he  was  seventy -six  years  of  age. 

MINOT,  GEORGE  RICHARDS  was  a  native  of 
Boston,  and  had  his  public  education  in  Harvard 
College,  with  the  class  of  1778.      He  studied  law, 


<•, 


SAMUEL  MOODY. 


293 


►  buy 
it,  to 
Brit- 
ivince. 
>y  the 
»ut  by 
lonists 
rt  was 
of  the 
38y  and 
}ut  all 
ay  and 
;  of  the 
)ody  of 
d  to  the 
rater  of 
offered 
There 
similar 
r76 ;  as 
e  stamp 
ider  cir- 
icers  of 
ise  and 
(e  urere 
;d  with- 
among 
regrets 
ipers  of 
ommis- 
olution ; 
e  in  the 
nd  until 


lative  of 
iarvard 
ied  law, 


and  at  the  end  of  three  years,  opened  an  office  for 
practice  in  Boston.  Even  at  that  early  period  of 
life,  he  had  a  high  character,  for  talents,  learning  and 

Srobity.  And  he  always  enjoyed,  in  an  uncommon 
egree,  the  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens.  In  his 
deportment  also,  he  has  mild  and  conciliating;  and 
no  one  perhaps  had  fewer  enemies.  Mr.  Minot  was 
sometime  clerk  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  and 
secretary  of  the  Convention  in  Massachusetts,  which 
adopted  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  in 
1788.  In  1792,  he  was  appointed  judge  of  probate 
for  the  County  of  Suffolk,  on  the  resignation  of  Judge 
Wendell.  He  was  an  excellent  writer,  and  his  pub- 
lications prove  him  to  have  been  a  man  of  close  ob- 
servation and  extensive  knowledge.  His  history  of 
Massachusetts,  following  the  period  included  in  that 
by  Hutchinson,  was  favorably  received  by  the  best 
scholars  in  the  country ;  and  was  far  more  in  the 
true  historical  style  and  manner  than  the  other.  On 
the  death  of  that  great  and  good  man,  General  Wash- 
ington, December  1799,  Judge  Minot  was  selected  by 
^e  general  voice  of  the  citizens  of  Boston,  to  pro- 
nounce his  eulogy.  The  oration  did  fulljustice  to  the 
extraordinary  personage  whom  it  portrayed  and  cel- 
ebrated, but  was  perfectly  chaste  and  free  from  all 
exaggerated  expressions  of  praise.  With  a  very  dis- 
criminating taste,  with  great  industry  and  an  un- 
common spirit  of  inquiry,  he  made  acquirements  in 
various  departments  of  literature  :  And  was  thus 
qualified  to  be  an  instructive  and  interesting  compan- 
ion. Judge  Minot  died  January  1802,  in  the  forty- 
fourth  year  of  his  age. 

MOODY,  SAMUEL  had  his  education  in  Har- 
vard College,  and  received  his  first  degree  in  the 
year  1746.  He  studied  theology,  and  preached 
sometime  after  he  left  college,  and  then  engaged  in 
the  instruction  of  youth;  and  particularly  in  pre- 
25* 


^ 


294 


CHARLES  MORTON. 


paring  young  men  for  entering  the  uniyersity.  The 
greater  part  of  his  life  was  devoted  to  this  honorable 
and  intellectual  employment.  For  nearly  thirty 
years  he  was  Master  of  the  Dummer  Aeademy, 
established  at  Newbury  in  1762,  designed  to  give 
young  men  a  good  classical  education :  and  Mr. 
Moody  was  fully  competent  to  the  task.  Some  of 
the  best  scholars  educated  in  Harvard  College,  six- 
ty and  eighty  years  ago,  were  first  under  his  tuition : 
as  Theophilus  Parsons  and  brothers.  Dr.  Thomas 
Kittredge,  Samuel  Phillips,  Dr.  D.  Tappan,  £. 
Pearson,  L  L.  D.,  R.  King,  D.  A.  Tyng,  W.  Prescott, 
B.  Pickman,  &Ai.  Mr.  Moody  died  suddenly  in 
1785,  at  the  age  of  sixty-one. 

MORTON,  Rev.  CHARLES  B.  D.  came  to  New 
England  in  1685,  and  was  minister  of  Charlestown 
several  years.  He  died  there  in  1698.  He  had  his 
education  in  Wadham  College,  Oxford ;  and  his 
reputation  was  very  high  as  a  scholar.  He  devoted 
several  years  to  the  instruction  of  youth.  Several  of 
his  pupils  were  distinguished  characters  in  England, 
twenty  and  thirty  years  afterwards.  He  had  the 
expectation  of  being  President  of  Harvard  College, 
when  he  came  to  Boston  ;  but  from  some  cause  did 
not  receive  the  election.  He  was,  however,  a  Fel- 
low of  the  College,  and  sometime  Vice  President. 
And  he  gave  lectures  to  the  pupils  at  his  house  in 
Charlestown ;  which  was  not  approved  by  the  gov- 
ernors of  the  college.  There  seems  to  have  been 
some  rivalship,  or  jealousy  towards  him.  Perhaps 
the  elder  Dr.  Mather  did  not  well  like  his  great  repu- 
tatfon  as  a  learned  man.  Several  of  his  works  were 
published.  But  he  was  not  a  very  voluminous 
writer.  He  thought  *'  a  great  book  a  great  evil." 
The  title  of  one  pamphlet  he  wrote,  was  ''  the  little 
peace  maker,"  another,  "  advice  to  candidates  for  the 
ministry,"  another,  "  the  way  of  good  men,  for  wise 
men  to  walk  in."  -  ,  i. 


PEBBZ  MORTON. 


295 


The 
Kable 
thirty 
demy, 
>  give 
d  Mr. 
line  of 
e,  six- 
iition ; 
homas 
in,  E. 
rescott, 
nly  in 

to  New 
[estowa 
lad  his 
md  his 
devoted 
veral  of 
ngland, 
lad  the 
Jollege, 
use  did 
,  a  Fel- 
esident. 
lOUse  in 
he  gov- 
^e  been 
Perhaps 
at  repu- 
ks  were 
iminous 
at  evil." 
he  little 
is  for  the 
for  wise 


MORTON,  Hon.  PEREZ  was  a  native  of  Ply- 
mouth, and  had  his  public  education  in  Harvard 
College,  with  the  class  of  1771.  He  studied  law ; 
but  the  war  of  the  Revolutiod  prevented  his  en- 
gaging in  the  practice,  when  he  completed  his 
studies.  The  subject  of  the  contest  with  England 
absorbed  all  other  concerns.  Mr.  Morton  was  an 
ardent  patriot ;  and  when  quite  young  took  a  de- 
cided part  with  the  friends  of  civil  liberty.  In  1775, 
he  was  one  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  for  Boston ; 
and  in  1776,  was  appointed  Deputy  Secretary ;  Mr. 
Samuel  Adams,  then  the  Secretary,  being  also  a 
member  of  the  continental  Congress,  which  met  at 
Philadelphia.  After  a  few  years,  he  opened  an  of- 
fice, as  attorney  at  law,  in  Boston,  and  was  in  ex- 
tensive practice  for  a  long  period.  As  an  eloquent 
writer  and  speaker,  very  few,  in  this  country,  have 
surpassed  Mr.  Morton.  He  always  used  good  lan- 
guage, and  spoke  with  propriety  and  effect.  He 
often  had  a  seat  in  the  General  Court,  and  was  also 
Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives.  In  1808, 
he  was  appointed  Attorney  General  of  Massachu- 
setts ;  and  continued  in  that  important  office  until 
the  year  1833,  when  he  resigned  on  account  of  his 
advanced  age,  and  the  infirm  state  of  his  health.  He 
died  in  1838,  at  the  age  of  eighty-seven. 


ma^fi  mf)  t&'ii)(f 


imh-H^m--^\ 


7   *t 


(fit 


-r'l'^ifr-yii  jv'.-    •jf^/?' 


CHAPTER  XII. 


N  O 


NORTON,  Rev.  JOHN  came  to  Massachusetts  in 
1635  ;  and  preached  a  few  months  at  Plymouth  and 
then  at  Boston,  but  took  up  his  residence  in  Ipswich 
in  1636.  That  town  had  then  been  settled  nearly 
two  years,  and  had  one  preacher  before  Mr.  Norton. 
He  ranked  among  the  most  learned  of  the  clergy,  and 
was  an  able  polemic.  He  contended  earnestly  for 
the  Calvinistic  system,  and  would  not  tolerate  those 
who  deviated  at  all  from  it.  When  Mr.  Pynchon,  a 
principal  man  of  the  first  company  in  1630,  wrote 
a  book,  which  opposed  in  some  respects  the  doctrine 
of  atonement,  according  to  Calvin,  Mr.  Norton  pub- 
lished a  reply,  with  which  nany  were  satisfied.  But 
it  did  not  convince  Mr.  Pynchon ;  whose  position 
was  "that  the  sufferings  and  death  of  Christ  were 
but  trials  of  his  fidelity  as  the  teacher  and  witness 
of  the  truth."     These  two  views  have  more  or  less 

Prevailed  in  the  Christian  world  to  the  present  day. 
Ir.  Norton  was  called  to  take  charge  of  the  first 
church  and  congregation  in  Boston,  in  1652,  and 
continued  in  that  station  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred suddenly,  on  the  Lord's  day,  in  the  year  1663, 
at  the  age  of  fifty-seven.  In  the  year  1662,  he  was 
appointed  an  agent  to  the  court  of  Charles  II,  to  en- 

gige  the  favor  and  clemency  of  that  Prince  for  New 
ngland.  He  lived  but  a  short  time  after  his  return. 
He  wrote  Latin  with  great  facility  and  purity.  Some 
of  his  publications  were  in  that  language. 


I.   NOWELL — V.  DAKSS. 


297 


4 

I 


ttts  m 
hand 
swich 
nearly 
[orton. 
y,  and 
tly  (or 
3  those 
ihon,  a 

wrote 
octrine 
n  pub- 
But 
>osition 
jt  were 
witness 

or  less 
nt  day. 
le  first 
)2,  and 
lich  oc- 
iT  1663, 

he  was 
toen- 

or  New 

return. 
Some 


> 


NOWELL,  INCREASE  was  one  of  the  compa- 
ny of  fifteen  hundred,  who  came  with  Governor 
Wtnthrop  to  Charlestown,  in  1630,  to  plant  a  colony 
in  Massachusetts ;  and  he  was  one  of  the  principal 
men  who  composed  that  resolute  band  of  Christians, 
who  chose  rather  to  emigrate  to  a  wilderness,  than  to 
be  governed  by  worldly  men  in  matters  of  religion. 
He  joined  the  infant  Christian  church,  formed  within 
a  fe^  weeks  after  the  company  landed.  He  was 
one  of  the  original  patentees  of  l^assachusetts,  and  a 
member  of  the  first  Board  of  Assistants ;  and  some- 
time Secretary  of  the  Colony.  He  received  the  elec- 
tion of  Ruling  Elder  of  the  Church,  in  1630 ;  but,  it 
being  then  supposed  improper  for  an  officer  in  the 
church  to  hold  civil  office,  Mr.  Nowell  resigned  his 
place  as  ruling  elder  in  1632  ;  and  was  elected  one 
of  the  assistants  for  several  years,  and  till  his  death. 
He  had  a  large  estate,  but  was  a  zealous  puritan,  and 
made  great  sacrifices  for  the  truth.  When  most  of 
the  leading  characters  of  the  company  removed  to 
Boston,  he  continued  in  Charlestown. 

OAKES,  Rev.  URIAN,  came  to  Massachusetts  in 
1631,  when  a  child ;  and  was  educated  in  Harvard 
College  with  the  class  of  1649.  The  classes  were 
then  small;  composed  of  six  or  eight,  for  several 
years.  And  it  is  rather  remarkable  that  there  were 
so  many,  than  that  there  were  not  more.  For  the 
early  settlers  had  to  struggle  hard  for  a  comfortable 
subsistence,  during  the  first  thirty  years.  And  the 
founding  of  a  college  for  the  advancement  of  human 
learning,  and  for  ''rearing  up  learned  young  men," 
in  addition  to  the  means  of  a  common  education, 
speaks  volumes  in  praise  of  the  puritan  fathers  of 
New  England;  both  of  their  wisdom  and  piety;  of 
their  regard  for  the  temporal  and  spiritual  welfare 
of  their  posterity.  As  there  were  but  a  few  students 
in  the  College,  the  means  and  opportunity  for  be- 


298 


ANDREW  OLIVER. 


coming  good  scholars  were  very  great.  President 
Dunster  was  eminent  as  a  classical  scholar,  as  well 
as  a  theologian:  and  Samuel  Mather  and  Samuel 
Danforth,  the  fellows  and  teachers  in  1646-48, 
were  deemed  learned  young  men.  As  did  a  great 
portion  of  the  graduates,  especially  at  that  early  pe- 
riod, Mr.  Oakes  studied  divinity.  He  went  to 
England,  and  was  settled  in  the  ministry  there ;  but 
returned  in  1670,  and  became  pastor  of  the  Chdrch 
and  society  in  Cambridge,  where  the  college  was  lo- 
cated. He  had  been  particularly  requested  to  come 
and  take  charge  of  that  church  ;  for  it  was  consider- 
ed important  to  have  a  good  scholar,  as  well  as  a 
good  preacher  there.  Mr.  Oakes  was  early  chosen 
one  of  the  fellows :  and  in  1675  the  President  of  the 
College,  as  successor  to  Mr.  Hoar :  but  he  died  with- 
in six  years  after  his  election,  1681,  at  the  age  of 
fiftv.  The  early  writers,  who  speak  of  President 
Oakes,  represent  him  as  a  ripe  scholar,  an  elegant 
writer,  an  impressive  pulpit  orator,  and  a  poet.  He 
wrotb  Latin  in  a  Ciceronean  style.  1^ 

He  published  a  Latin  elegy  on  the  death  of  Rev. 
Mr.  Shepard  of  Charlestown,  who  died  young :  an 
election  sermon,  not  inferior  to  that  of  Btoughton, 
of  Mitchell  or  of  Hubbard,  which  were  said  to  be 
the  best  delivered,  on  a  similar  occasion,  during  the 
first  seventy  years  of  the  Colony.  His  epitaph  des- 
cribes him  as  one  very  conspicuous  for  piety,  genius 
and  learning :  and  for  fidelity  in  the  discharge  of  his 
duties,  both  as  pastor  cf  the  church  and  President  of 
the  college. 

OLIVER,  ANDREW  an  inhabitant  of  Salem,  a 
great  part  of  his  life,  was  a  son  of  Lieutenant  Gov- 
ernor Andrew  Oliver.  The  father  was  long  in  pub- 
lic stations  in  the  province,  and  of  a  good  education ; 
having  received  a  degree  in  Harvard  College  in 
1724.    He  was  ranked  among  the  literary  charac- 


ANDREW    OLITSR. 


299 


Rev. 


lem,  a 


ters  of  his  time ;  and  was  chosen  a  member  of  A. 
P.  S.  Ho  was  also  sometime  secretary  of  the  prov- 
ince. He  died  in  1774,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine. 
The  son  received  his  public  education  in  Harvard 
College,  with  the  class  of  1749.  He  was  a  hard 
student,  and  gave  his  attention  chiefly  to  the  subject 
of  astronomy.  He  also  was  elected  a  member  t>f 
the  A.  P.  S.  at  Philadelphia ;  and  of  A.  A.,  of  Arts 
and  Sciences'  in  Massachusetts,  founded  in  1780. 
The  Philosophical  Society  at  Philadelphia  was 
founded  in  1750,  and  Franklin  was  one  of  the  origi- 
nal and  most  active  members.  In  .his  political 
views,  Mr.  Oliver  was  ranked  with  the  tories  of  1775. 
This  was  natural,  as  his  father  and  family  were 
among  the  zealous  friends  of  the  parent  government. 
But  he  did  not  take  an  active  part  in  the  con- 
test, nor  depart  the  province,  as  did  most  of  those 
of  similar  opinions.  Some  good  men  were  inclined 
to  submit  to  the  measures  of  the  British  ministry ; 
in  the  hope,  probably,  that  a  milder  policy  would 
be  adopted.  Mr.  Oliver  was  at  one  time,  a  justice 
of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  in  the  County  of 
Essex ;  and  once,  in  1766,  represented  the  town  of 
Salem  in  the  General  Court.  In  1772,  Mr.  Oliver 
published  an  essay  on  comets,  in  two  parts,  intend- 
ed to  explain  the  phenomena  of  the  tail,  (or  comae,) 
of  comets :  and  to  show  their  design  and  uses ;  with 
observations  on  the  planets.  The  volume  was  dedi- 
icated  to  Hon.  John  Winthrop,  L  L.  D.  F.  R.  S. 
Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Natural  Philosophy, 
in  Harvard  College.  It  was  considered  an  ingenious 
and  learned  work;  but  it  consisted  very  much  of 
theory  and  conjecture.  Two  comets  appeared  in 
this  hemisphere,  about  the  middle  of  last  century, 
or  a  little  past,  and  excited  great  attention;  a  por- 
tion of  the  people  were  much  alarmed  at  their  ap- 
pearance.. Mr.  Oliver  died  in  1799,  aged  sixty- 
eight.  »{i  .moii/^i/t  m  i'.airfiia  tfrtj  i^tv>yr-ttq  iKtmts^sfW 


300 


AZOR   ORNB. — DATIO   OSGOOD. 


ORNE,  Hon.  AZOR  of  Marblehead,  was  an  early 
and  ardent  advocate  for  the  rights  of  the  colonies, 
when  the  British  ministry  encroached  on  those 
rights,  and  claimed  to  legislate  for  the  people  in 
America,  in  all  cases  whatever.  It  was  truly  a  crit- 
ical period ;  and  had  not  the  intelligent  men  of  that 
dtiy,  stood  firm  and  resoluto  in  defence  of  civil  liber- 
ty, we  of  the  present  generation  had  been  the  most  ab- 
ject and  degraded  slaves.  Mr.  Ome  was  a  delegate 
from  Marblehead.  to  the  Essex  County  Convention, 
held  in  Sept.  1774,  to  consult  for  the  defence  and 
welfare  of  the  province.  He  was  also  a  member  of 
the  Provincial  Congresses,  in  October  1774,  in  Febru- 
ary and  in  "May  1775.  And  a  great  portion  of  the 
time  he  was  one  of  the  committee  of  safety,  which 
was  appointed  in  November  1774,  and  clothed  with 
executive  authority.  It  was  often  in  session, 
during  the  sitting  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  and  in 
the  recess  of  that  assembly.  Mr.  Ome  had  been  a 
Colonel  of  Militia  before  that  year :  and  he  was  an 
effici^it  and  important  member  of  committees  on 
military  affairs,  in  organizing  the  provincial  troops, 
and  in  collecting  arms  and  amunition :  and  the  ser- 
vice required  more  than  common  activity  and  ener- 
gy. Colonel  Orne  was  a  member  of  the  General 
Court  some  years  before  the  time  above  mentioned  ; 
and  ranked  high  among  the  men  of  influence  in  the 
legislature.  He  was  also  of  the  Senate,  and  of  the 
Executive  Council  of  Massachusetts,  for  several 
3rears  after  the  adoption  of  &e  Constitution  of  the 
State,  ip  1780.  Few  men  in  the  State  were  more 
years  in  public  life  then  Mr.  Orne ;  and  none  «were 
more  respected. 

OSGOOD,  Rev.  DAVID  D.D.  was  a  native  of  Aa- 
•dover,  in  Massachusetts,  and  received  his  education 
in  Harvard  College,  with  the  class  of  1771.  He  was 
ordained  pastor  of  the  church  in  Medford,  near  Bos- 


DAVID  OSGOOD. 


301 


early 
ionies, 
those 
»ple  in 
a  crit- 
)f  that 
I  hber- 
ost  ab- 
elegate 
entioD, 
ce  and 
nber  of 
Febru- 
i  of  the 
',  which 
e>d  with 
session, 
,  and  in 
been  a 
was  an 
ttees  on 
1  troops, 
the  ser- 
nd  ener- 
General 
ntioned ; 
ce  in  the 
id  of  the 
several 
m  of  the 
rere  more 
oae*were 

ve  of  An- 
edncation 
He  was 
near  Bos- 


ton, in  ^77i:  and  had  a  long  ministerial  course  in 
that  place,  ot  nearly  fifty  years.   He  possessed  superi- 
or mental  powers,  and  had  strong  passions  and  preju- 
dices.    Under  the  guidance  of  religious  principles, 
these  natural  feelings  were  in  a  go<Kl  measure  sub- 
dued ;  and  yet  some  of  his  opinions  were  evidently 
formed  under  improper  biases.     When  he  began  to 
preach,  he  wa^  strictly  Calvinistic ;  and  like  many 
who  adopt  that  creed,  he  considered  it  necessary  to 
insist  on  his  peculiar  views  as  essential  to  salvation. 
The  following  anecdote  has  been  related  of  him,  in 
reference  to  this  point.    His  father  was  what  some 
then  called  an  Arminian,  and  others,  a  moderate 
Calvinist.    But  he  did  not   however,  subscribe  to 
the  high  points  of  Calvinism.     He  was  a  professor  of 
religion,  and  an  upright  and  pious  character.     His 
son  preached  for  his  minister,  Dr.  Symmes,  and  rep- 
resented all  those  who  did  not  assent  to  the  five 
points  of  the  Calvinistic  system  as  unconverted, 
and  in   the  sure  way  to  hell.  <  After  meeting,  his. 
father  desired  him  to  review  his  peculiar  opinions  by 
the  light  both  of  reason  and  scripture:     For,  he 
added,  "  if  your  doctrines  are  true,  your  father  has 
no  just  hope  of  salvation,  and  is  in  the  broad  way  of 
destruction."    Mr.  Osgood  thought  often  and  much 
of  this  admonition ;  and  the  consequence  was  more 
liberal  views  of  religion,  and  less  stress  being  laid  by 
him  on  those  abstruse  doctrines.    And  in  the  latter 
part  of  his  life  Dr.  Osgood  had  the  character  a  very 
catholic  Christian.    He  exchanged  pulpits  with  most 
of  the  clergymen  of  Boston,  who  were  professedly 
Unitarian,  and  anti-Calvinistic.      Dr.  Osgood  pub- 
lished several  sermons,  prepared  for  public  occasions, 
which  are  highly  creditable  to  him  as  a  divine  and  a 
man  of  talents.    But  the  error  of  his  early  life  clung 
to  him  to  the  tast.    He  was  positive,  dogmatical,  and 
in  his  censures  of  those  who  differed  from  him,  often 


.  *■»#»-»!)/■*-«] 


26 


:<.*'»»■ 'vTv? 


»'«»3W>>fl 


;| 


302 


SAMUEL   OSGOOD — JAMES   OTIS. 


!    I 


harsh  and  severe.    He  died  in  1822,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-four. 

aSGOOD,  Hon.  SAMUEL  was  a  native  of  An- 
dover  and  received  a  degree  in  Harvard  College,  in 
the  year  1770.  When  quite  a  young  man,  not  more 
than  twenty-five,  he  took  a  decided  and  active  part 
in  the  contest  in  defence  of  colonial  rights  and  civil 
liberty,  in  opposition  to  the  oppressive  measures  of 
Great  Britain. — He  was  a  delegate  from  Andover  to 
the  Convention  of  Essex  County,  In  September  1774, 
and  a  member  of  the  second  Provincial  Congress  of 
Massachusetts,  which  met  at  Cambridge,  in  February 
1775.  He  was  on  several  committees  to  whom  very 
important  subjects  were  referred.  In  the  course  of 
the  year  1775,  he  had  a  milit&ry  commission;  and 
was  first  a  Captain,  then  Brigade- Major,  and  then 
Colonel.  He  continued  in  the  army  most  of  the 
war,  and  was  assistant  to  the  Commissary  General. 
In  1781,  he  was  chosen  a  member  of  Congress,  and 
was  sometime  Post-Master-General,  before  and  after 
the  federal  government  was  established.  He  was 
also  a  commissioner  for  adjusting  the  accounts  be- 
tween the  State  of  Massachusetts,  and  the  United 
States,  soon  after  the  Revolutionary  war  terminated. 

OTIS,  Hon.  JAMES  was  a  citizen  of  Barnstable, 
where  his  ancestor  removed  from  Scituate,  in  Ply- 
mouth County.  In  the  former  part  of  his  life,  he 
attended  to  agriculture,  and  occasionally  to  the  art 
of  glazing.  But  he  had  a  laudible  curiosity  to  gain 
a  knowledge  of  history,  particularly  of  New  and 
Old  England.  And  his  reading  for  this  purpose  ex- 
cited a  desire  and  lead  to  the  study  of  politics.  He 
became  distinguished  by  his  information  from  most 
of  his  fellow  citizens,  when  in  the  meridian  of  life  ; 
and  he  had  a  commission  for  the  peace,  and  as  a 
judge  of  the  County  Court.      He  often  had  a  seat 


f& 


JAMES  OTIS. 


303 


;eof 


An- 
;e,  in 
more 
part 
civil 
es  of 
er  to 
L7T4, 

3S8  of 

ruary 
1  very 
rse  of 
;  and 
[  then 
of  the 
meral. 
|S,  and 
1  after 
was 
Its  be- 
United 
nated. 


(Stable, 

n  Ply- 
life,  he 
the  art 
to  gain 
QW  and 
)Ose  ex- 
5s.    He 
im  most 
of  life ; 
nd  as  a 
i  a  seat 


also  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  and  several 
times  at  the  Council  Board.  When  the  di8pute  with 
Great  Britain  began,  in  1764,  as  to  the  extent  of 
the  powers  of  the  legislative  assembly  of  Massachu- 
setts, and  to  the  supremacy  of  parliament  over  the 
colonies,  Mr.  Otis  was  found  an  ardent  and  intelli- 
gent advocate  for  the  rights  of  the  people  in  Amer- 
ica. He  acted  with  thos^  who  acknowledged  alle- 
giance to  the  crown,  and  were  willing  to  remain  a 
part  of  the  British  empire,  as  it  had  been,  with 
power  in  the  colonial  assemblies  to  make  all  laws 
lor  the  internal  police  of  the  province,  and  the  as- 
sessment of  all  taxes,  and  allowing  authority  to  the 
parliament  only  to  regulate  trade  and  commerce. 
This  class  of  men  contended  that  the  parliament  in 
England  could  only  justly,  and  consistently  with 
English  liberty,  legislate  for  the  subjects  in  Great 
Britain,  as  they  were  represented  in  that  assembly — 
but,  as  the  people  in  the  colonies  were  not  and  could 
not  be  fairly  represented  in  parliament,  they  were 
allowed  by  their  charter  to  have  a  legislative  assem- 
bly in  each  colony,  liable  to  be  restrained  only,  by 
the  negative  of  the  king's  governor  and  agent  in  the 

Srovince,  and  by  a  prohibition  not  to  pass  any  law 
irectly  repugnant  to  the  laws  of  England.  Mr.  Otis 
was  in  the  legislature  almost  every  year  from  1763 
to  1775  :  and  often  the  chairman  of  very  impoftarit 
committees  during  that  critical  period.  He  was  ac- 
cused of  great  ambition,  by  his  political  enemies ; 
and  his  opposition  to  ministerial  measures  was 
charged  to  disappointment  in  not  obtaining  offices  he 
wished.  But  his  friends  said  in  reply,  that  he  was 
qualified  for,  and  deserved  the  offices  he  sought  |  and 
that  the  advocates  of  the  British  ministry  unjustly 
monopolized  all  the  honorable  and  lucrative  places 
in  the  province. 

OTIS,  JAMES  Jr.,  son  of  the  former,  was  edu- 


■ 

1| 


T 


804 


JAMBS   OTU. 


cated  in  Harvard  College,  and  received  his  first  de- 
gree in  1743.  He  early  engaged  in  the  profession  of 
law  ;  and  had  a  high  reputation  both  as  a  jurist  and 
an  advocate.  He  was  learned  in  his  profession ;  and 
his  power  as  a  pleader  was  uncommonly  great.  He 
well  understood  human  nature,  and  had  acquired 
extensive  information ;  so  that,  at  the  age  of  thirty 
and  thirty- five,  he  was  preferred  by  most  persons, 
who  had  important  cases  in  court,  to  all  other  attor- 
Dies  or  barristers  in  the  Province.  On  great  ques- 
tions of  constitutional  law  he  was  qualified  to  argue 
as  those  who  were  twenty  years  older.  And  he  was 
in  the  habit  of  considering  the  fundamendal  axioms 
and  principles  of  law.  And  these  great  principles 
he  applied  alike  to  liberty  and  justice.  Justice  and 
liberty  with  him  were  not  incompatible ;  and  law, 
he  contended,  was  designed  to  support  those  two 
great  pillars  of  human  society  and  human  happi- 
ness. He  was  therefore  a  whig  from  principle ;  and 
his  appeals  in  favor  of  whig  principles  and  measures 
were  powerful  and  irresistible ;  for  he  had  nature  and 
reason  and  truth  on  his  side.  It  was  said  by  Presi- 
dent Adams,  than  whom  no  one  could  speak  more 
correctly,  respecting  Mr.  Otis,  that  he  first  set  the 
ball  of  the  Revolution  in  motion,  and  kept  it  in  mo- 
tion for  several  years.  His  opposition  to  the  writs  of 
assistance  in  1761,  a  most  arbitrary  measure,  fatal 
both  to  the  personal  and  social  rights  of  the  people, 
was  bold  and  able ;  and  gave  a  great  check  to  the 
insolence  of  British  agents  and  custom-house  officers. 
Even  the  Lieutenant  Governor,  who  was  then  a  jus- 
tice of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  had  authorized  the 
issue  of  such  writs,  stood  rebuked  at  the  boldness  of 
Otis,  supported  as  he  was  by  law  and  justice.  Lu- 
ther was  not  more  formidable  to  the  corrupt  agents  of 
the  Pope  in  1520.  "  The  Rights  of  the  Colonies," 
written  by  Mr.  Otis,  had  a  very  great  effect  in  con- 
vincing the  people  generally  of  the  importance  of 
preserving  their   charter  liberties,  and  of  remons- 


JAMES   OTIS.    * 


305 


St  de- 
ion  of 
It  and 
;  and 
.    He 
quired 
thirty 
BTsons, 
r  attor- 
i  quet- 
)aigue 
he  was 
axioms 
inciples 
ice  and 
id  law, 
)se  two 
I  happi- 
le;  and 
leasures 
lure  and 
y  Presi- 
ik  more 
set  the 
it  in  mo- 
1  writs  of 
ire,  fatal 
e  people, 
ck  to  the 
Q  officers, 
en  a  jns- 
>rized  the 
)ldness  of 
ice.    Lu- 
agents  of 
Colonies," 
ct  in  con- 
Ttance  of 
'  remons- 


trating against  the  arbitrary  measures  then  proposed 
by  the  administration  in  England.  In  the  disputes, 
commencing  in  1764,  and  continuing  till  1775,  for 
the  sole  right  of  the  Colonial  legislative  assemblies 
to  lay  taxes,  and  make  all  internal  laws  and  regula- 
tions, and  denying  the  authority  of  the  British  Par- 
liament to  legislate  and  tax  and  govern  the  Ameri- 
cans, except  as  it  relates  to  the  concerns  of  a  foreign 
commerce,  Mr.  Otis  was  one  of  the  principal  agents, 
>*^ither  as  a  member  of  .the  General  Assembly  of  the 
Province,  or  as  a  citizen  of  Boston,  the  metropolis, 
and  the  town  which  usually  gave  the  tone  to  the 
public  measures  then  adopted.  There  were  some 
other  master-spirits,  but  none  exceeded  him,  and  few 
were  equally  zealous  and  powerful.  The  boldness 
and  decision  of  Mr.  Otis,  in  opposing  the  oppressive 
measures  of  the  parent  government,  rendered  him 

Sarticularly  obnoxious  to  its  agents  and  officers  in 
loston.  They  insulted  him,  and  on  one  occasion 
made  an  assault  on  him,  when  he  received  a  blow 
on  the  head  from  one  of  them  in  a  moment  of  angry 
dispute,  which  affected  his  intellect,  and  he  was 
never  after  perfectly  well.  He  declined  all  public 
office  after  this,  (1770,)  except  one  year  he  consent- 
ed to  take  a  seat  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  in 
1771,  or  1772;  and  also  took  part  in  a  town  meeting, 
called  to  vindicate  the  citizens  of  Boston  from  unjust 
statements  made  of  their  conduct  by  British  agents. 
His  friends  never  withdrew  their  confidence,  but  it 
was  thought  he  mi^ht  possibly  injure  his  character 
for  intelligence  and  judgment,  if  he  should  be  forced 
into  debate  by  his  opponents,  when  he  was  suffering 
under  the  effects  of  his  wound  by  mental  depression 
or  eccentricity.  His  reputation  for  patriotism,  for 
sound  political  knowledge,  and  for  intellectual  pow- 
er, was  so  well  established,  that  no  temporary  sus- 
pension or  interruption  of  his  wonted  able  efforts 
could  injuriously  affect  it^  He  had  even  then  ac- 
26* 


« 


« 


■nm 


306 


SAMUEL  A.   OTIS. 


i 


quired  and  confirmed  a  character  for  patriotic  devotion 
and  for  uncommon  powers  of  mind,  which  no  acci- 
dent or  misfortune  could  destroy :  And  all  the 
friends  to  the  cause  of  civil  liberty,  defended  by  our 
fathers  in  1770-75,  will  cherish  his  memory  as  of 
one  who  was  among  the  ablest  and  most  ardent  pat- 
riots of  the  Revolution.  Mr.  Otis  was  suddenly 
taken  away,  by  lightning,  in  1783,  at  about  the  age 
of  sixty  years. 

OTIS,  SAMUEL  A.  was  a  brother  of  the  last 
named ;  and  received  his  education  in  Harvard  Col- 
lege, with  the  class  of  1759.  He  engaged  in  mer- 
cantile pursuits,  and  settled  in  Boston.  He  also 
took  an  active  part  in  the  cause  of  civil  liberty,  at 
an  early  period  of  the  dispute  with  the  parent  gov- 
ernment. But  was  too  young,  when  the  controver- 
sy began  to  be  a  prominent  actor,  like  his  older 
brother.  He  had  however,  while  rather  a  young 
man,  a  seat  in  the  General  Court,  as  a  Representa- 
tive from  Boston  in  1778,  and  was  employed,  in 
various  agencies  and  services,  in  behalf  of  the  Com- 
monwealth. He  w  as  once  Speaker  of  the  House  of 
Representatives ;  and  a  member  of  Congress  in 
1787.  When  Shay's  insurrection  was  put  down  in 
1787,  Governor  Bowdoin  appointed  commissioners 
to  visit  the  western  parts  of  the  State,  to  inquire  in- 
to the  condition  and  views  of  the  people,  in  order  to 
restore  tranquillity  and  harmony  in  the  community. 
Mr.  Otis  was  one  of  them.  When  the  federal  gov- 
ernment was  formed,  in  1789,  under  the  new  Con- 
stitution, Mr.  Otis  received  the  office  of  the  Secre- 
tary to  the  Senate ;  and  remained  in  that  station  till 
near  the  time  of  his  death,  when  sickness  induced 
him  to  resign  it.  He  was  always  highly  esteemed 
by  his  fellow  citizens  for  his  probity,  attention  to  all 
his  public  duties,  and  for  bland  and  courteous  man- 
ners. Hon.  Harrison  G.  Otis,  of  Boston,  is  his  son ; 
a  man  long  in  public  life ;  and  not  inferior,  perhaps, 


JOHN  OXENBRIDOE. 


307 


rotion 
acci- 
11  the 
jy  our 
-  as  of 
It  pat- 
idenly 
he  age 

le  last 
rd  Col- 
1  mer- 
le also 
irty,  at 
It  gov- 
itrover- 
B  older 
young 
esenta- 
yed,  in 
B  Com- 
}use  of 
ress   in 
3wn  in 
isioners 
uire  in- 
»rder  to 
nunity. 
Bll  gov- 
w  Con- 
Secre- 
tion till 
-induced 
iteemed 
in  to  all 
IS  man- 
lis  son ; 
lerhaps, 


to  any  one  of  the  honorable  name,  for  political  knowl- 
edge, enlarged  patriotism,  and  successful  efforts  of 
oratory.  Mr.  Otis  died  in  1814,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-three. 

OXENBRIDGE,  Rev.  JOHN  came  to  Massachu- 
setts in  1670,  and  was  the  pastor  of  the  first  church 
and  society  in  Boston,  four  years.  He  had  been 
ejected  from  the  ministry  in  England,  by  the  order 
of  Charles  H,  in  106  i,  soon  after  his  restoration  to 
the  throne  of  his  ancestors — More  than  two  thousand 
learned  and  pious  ministers  were  deprived  of  their 
pastoral  office  and  living,  for  their  non-conformity  to 
the  rites  and  forms  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  through 
the  influence  of  bigotted  prelates  and  narrow  minded 
politicians.  Some  of  them  had  gone  from  New  Eng- 
land in  the  time  of  the  commonwealth  ;  but  they  re- 
turned after  this  intolerant  measure  of  King  Charles 
II.  Mr.  Oxenbridge  was  a  learned  theologian  and  a 
popular  preacher.  Several  of  his  discourses  were 
published. — One  of  them  the  election  sermon,  in  May 
1671.  He  said,  "he  knew  that  there  was  deep 
mischief  plotting  against  New  England,  as  ever 
the  sun  saw" — and  added,  "as  you  have  come 
hither  for  public  helps  and  means,  in  support  of 
(primitive)  ordinances,  oh  do  not  betray  your  liber- 
ties ;  but  lose  your  blood  before  you  lose  them,  and 
the  Lord  with  them.  Bear  the  ark  still  on  your  shoul- 
ders, that  the  Lord  may  dwell  with  you."  He  re- 
ferred probably,  to  the  plan  then  proposed  by  the 
English  hierarchy  of  directing  and  controling  in  all 
religious  affairs  in  New  England,  as  was  done  in 
Great  Britain  ;  and  of  requiring  entire  conformity 
here  as  well  as  there,  to  all  the  forms  and  cere- 
monies of  the  English  Church :  which  would  have 
proved  wholly  destructive  of  the  purpose  of  the  first 
and  early  settlers  of  Massachusetts — liberty  to  wor- 
ship God  according  to  his  word,  and  not  according 
to  the  commands  of  men.     -■■'  ^w  ^:^i  * 


«*»#     ^ilKff\r\^^  W 


HI     \l\ 


.yi^mmt^-Am'  «*i*^'i- 


'!«  ^  ....  ■      .     -■ 

\^ff^p4,frf^ .     CHAPTER  XIII. 

«>|;  110. 


,;m-.*^...    ft.   V'JJ-04jir    i^fi 

»  *Tiii  Vitifi   ifOttti  .lilOl     !h  .Jli  «•/!  O 

PAINE,  Hon.  ROBERT  T.  L  h.  D.  was  a  na- 
tive of  Weymouth,  and  received  his  public  education 
in  Harvard  College,  where  he  was  graduated  in 
1749.  His  father  was  pastor  of  the  church  in  Wey- 
mouth ;  and  from  him  he  received  a  religious  edu- 
cation in  his  youth.  He  was  a  grateful,  affectionate 
and  dutiful  son  ;  and  appropriated  the  fruits  of  his 
early  labors,  after  he  arrived  at  manhood,  to  the 
support  of  his  aged  and  infirm  parent.  And  through 
a  long  life,  much  of  it  devoted  to  the  public  service, 
he  gave  evidence  by  his  upright  conduct,  that  he  was 
governed  by  religious  principles.  Mr.  Paine  studied 
theology  and  preached  a  few  months ;  and  went  as 
chaplain  with  the  Massachusetts  troops  against  Can- 
ada, in  1756.  But  he  was  not  settled  in  the  min- 
istry. He  entered  the  profession  of  law,  and  was  in 
the  practice  several  years  at  Taunton,  in  the  Coun- 
ty of  Bristol.  By  advice  of  his  friends  he  removed 
to  Boston ;  and  there  continued  the  practice  with 
the  reputation  of  an  able  attorney  and  barrister.  He 
was  intimate  with  Rev.  Dr.  Mayhew:  and  at- 
tended on  his  ministry.  In  1770,  as  the  King's  at- 
torney was  sick,  Mr.  Paine,  assisted  by  Samuel, 
Quincy,  conducted  the  prosecution  against  Captain 
Preston,  and  his  men,  who  fired  on  the  citizens  of 
Boston,  the  evening  of  the  5th  of  March  of  that  year, 


B..T.   PAINE. 


309 


j£.  :m^ 


3  a  na- 
ucation 
ited  in 
tiWey- 
is  edu- 
:tionate 
of  bis 
to  the 
hiough 
service, 
he  was 
studied 
vent  as 
ist  Can- 
le  mia- 
wasin 
Coun- 
emoved 
with 
He 
at- 
ng's  at- 
Samuel. 
Captain 
izens  of 
at  year, 


;e 

ter. 

dLud 


when  three  persons  were  killed,  and  five  others 
wounded.  He  managed  the  trial  with  great  ability 
and  ingenuity.  Mr.  Paine  was  a  delegate  from 
Taunton,  in  1774  and  1775,  where  he  then  resided, 
to  the  first  and  second  Provincial  Congresses  in  Mas- 
sachusetts ;  a  member  of  the  House  of  Assembly,  in 
May  of  the  year  1774 ;  and  a  delegate  to  the  Con- 
tinental Congress,  which  met  at  Philadelphia  in 
September  1774 ;  and  for  several  successive  years. 
During  a  part  of  the  time  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Executive  Council ;  was  appointed  a  Judge  of  the 
Supreme  Court  in  1776 ;  but  declined.  Under  the 
new  constitution  of  Massachusetts,  adopted  in  1780, 
he  was  Attorney  General  from  that  year  to  1790 ; 
when  he  was  appointed  a  Justice  of  the  Supreme 
Judicial  Court.  He  continued  in  this  high  station, 
for  fourteen  or  fifteen  years ;  when  the  infirmities 
of  age  induced  him  to  decline.  He  died  in  1814,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-five.  In  his  manners,  Judge  Paine 
was  less  mild  and  courteous  than  some  of  his  con- 
temporaries— But  he  had  very  benevolent  feelings, 
and  good  affections,  as  all  could  bear  witness  who 
had  frequent  intercourse  with  him.  As  a  lawyer,  a 
judge,  a  magistrate,  a  politician  and  a  citizen,  he 
had  the  character  of  strict  integrity  and  of  upright 
and  patriotic  views.  He  is  to  be  classed  with  other 
good  men  of  the  last  generation,  to  whose  disinter- 
estedness and  zeal  and  firmness,  united,  we  are  in- 
debted for  the  preservation  of  our  civil  liberties. 

PAINE,  ROBERT  T.  Jr.  son  of  Hon.  Robert 
T.  Paine,  received  his  education  in  Harvard  College, 
and  was  graduated  in  the  year  1792.  He  possessed 
superior  talents,  and  was  reputed  one  of  the  best 
poetical  writers  of  his  time.  He  excelled  most  of 
his  contemporaries  in  classical  learning;  and  his 
poetry  was  often  enriched  by  allusions  to  ancient 
characters  and  mythological  legends.    His  writings 


;i| 


310 


JOSEPH     PALMER. 


I 


in 

M  i 


gave  evidence  of  a  strong  imagination ;  but  the  pe- 
culiar character  of  his  style  was  energy.  He  re- 
sembled Pope  more  than  any  other  English  poet. 
He  expressed  his  opinions  in  concise,  sententious 
phrases.  There  was  meaning  in  every  line;  he 
never  sacrificed  sense  for  the  sake  of  a  smooth  style, 
or  harmony  of  exprfession  :  and  yet  he  was  always 
happy  in  his  phraseology.  His  ballads  and  songs 
for  national  occasions,  were  written  with  much 
power  and  felicity ;  and  were  received  with  enthusi- 
asm by  congregated  assemblies  of  the  people.  He 
studied  law,  but  was  too  indolent,  or  too  little  at- 
tached to  the  profession,  to  devote  himself  to  the 
practice.  He  had  charge  of  a  newspaper  for  some- 
time, and  conducted  it  with  great  ability;  for  he 
was  well  informed  on  political  subjects ;  and  of  men 
and  manners  few  knew  so  much.  In  giving  sketch- 
es of  public  characters,  he  was  also  correct  and  in- 
teresting. Many  fugitive  pieces  from  his  gifted  pen, 
were  given  to  the  public  ;  and  many  are  still  pre- 
served;  but  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  he  prepared  no 
great  work,  which  it  is  believed  he  had  talents  ti* 
have  accomplished,  at  once  honorable  to  himself  and 
to  American  literature.  ■  \. 

PALMER,  JOSEPH  Esq.  was  a  citizen  of 
Braintree,  now  Quincy,  and  was  one  of  the  patriots 
in  Massachusetts  who  early  opposed  the  arbitrary- 
measures  of  the  British  ministry,  relating  to  the 
American  Colonies.  He  had  a  seat  in  the  three 
Provincial  Congresses  which  convened  at  Concord, 
Cambridge,  and  Watertown,  in  October  1774,  Feb- 
ruary 1775,  and  May  1775.  He  was  also  at  the 
same  time,  one  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  appoint- 
ed by  the  first  Provincial  Congress,  as  an  executive 
body ;  and  which  often  held  meetings  to  provide  for 
the  defence  of  the  province,  when  the  Congress  was 
not  in  session.    That  he  was  an  active  member  ap- 


ISAAC    PARKER.  M. 


the  pe- 
He  rc- 
h  poet, 
entious 
ne ;   he 
h  style, 
always 
d  songs 
much 
jnthusi- 
ile.    He 
ttle   at- 
f  to  the 
•r  some- 
;  for  he 
I  of  men 
;  sketch- 
and  in- 
fted  pen, 
till  pre- 
)ared  no 
ilents  to 
iself  and 


lizen  of 
patriots 
irbitrary 
to  the 
le  three 
oncord, 
r4,  Feb- 
at  the 
appoint- 
xecutive 
)vide  for 
ress  was 
aber  ap- 


pears from  his  being  on  a  great  number  of  com- 
mittees, to  which  the  most  important  subjects  were 
referred  ;  and  quite  often  the  chairman.  The  duties 
thus  assigned,  could  not  but  demand  great  attention 
and  much  time ;  and  his  character  was  that  of  a 
man  of  intelligence,  activity,  resolution,  and  of 
fidelity  to  the  trust  committed  to  him.  During  the 
years  1775  and  177G,  he  also  held  the  commission 
of  Colonel  of  the  militia,  and  was  often  in  the  field 
in  the  vicinity  of  Boston  and  Braintree,  for  the  de- 
fence of  the  inhabitants  near  the  seacoast,  and  then 
deemed  in  danger  of  attacks  from  British  armed 
vessels.  In  July  1775,  a  House  of  Representatives 
was  formed,  agreeably  to  a  recommendation  of  Con- 
gress, composed  of  members  from  the  several  towns 
in  the  Commonwealth  ;  and  they  elected  counsellors 
to  act  in  the  place  of  the  mandamus  counsellors  ap- 
pointed by  the  king,  but  whose  appointment  was 
not  recognized  as  legal  and  constitutional.  Colonel 
Palmer  was  chosen  one  of  that  honorable  board.  In 
1777,  Colonel  Palmer  was  appointed  to  command 
the  militia  of  Massachusetts  to  defend  Rhode  Island 
from  the  British,  with  the  rank  of  Brigadier  Gener- 
al :  and  on  this  occasion  was  charged  with  disobe- 
dience of  the  orders  of  General  Spencer,  of  Con- 
necticut, who  was  commander-in-chief  of  the  expe- 
dition. The  project  was  unsuccessful ;  and  Spencer 
blamed  Palmer  for  delay  in  bringing  on  his  men,  as 
he  ordered.  But  Spencer  was  also  charged  with 
want  of  energy  and  promptness. 

PARKER,  Hon.  ISAAC,  L  L.  D.  a  native  of' 
Boston,  was  educated  at  the  public  Latin  school  in 
Boston,  and  in  Harvard  College.  He  belonged  to  the 
class  grajduated  in  1786.  He  was  young  in  college; 
but  ranked  among  the  first  scholars  in  his  class. 
He  wrote  correctly  and  with  great  facility ;  and  in 
his  elocution  he  was  popular  and  impressive.      He 


i 


312 


SAMUEL    PARKEB. 


read  law  in  Boston,  but  began  the  practice  at  Cas- 
tine,  in  Maine.  His  business  was  quite  extensive, 
and  many  of  his  clients  came  from  a  great  distance. 
When  about  thirty  years  of  age,  he  was  chosen  a 
member  of  Congress.  And  after  a  few  years,  re- 
moved to  Portland.  He  was  then  appointed  Mar- 
shal of  thi-t  United  States,  for  the  District  of  Maine : 
but  retained  the  office  only  for  a  short  period.  In 
1806,  he  received  an  appointment  of  an  associate  jus- 
tice of  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court  of  Massachusetts. 
It  had  been  offered  to  him  before,  when  he  declined 
it.  On  the  death  of  Judge  Samuel  Sewall,  in  1814, 
he  was  commissioned  as  chief  justice  of  that  court ; 
and  remained  in  that  responsible  and  honorable  of- 
fice until  his  death,  in  1830.  He  was  greatly  la- 
mented ;  for  he  was  not  only  a  learned  judge,  but  an 
impartial  dispenser  of  justice,  and  ever  disposed  to 
8h'«w  mercy  where  the  law  would  permit,  and  sound 
discretion  would  approve  of  extending  it.  His  death 
was  sudden,  by  paralysis,  in  1830,  when  he  was 
nearly  sixty-two  years  of  age.  As  a  judge  he 
leaned  to  the  justice  and  equity  of  a  cause ;  and  was 
not  unduly  influenced  by  the  technicalities  or  mere 
forms  of  law.  His  writings  were  characterized  by  a 
natural  and  intelligible,  but  correct,  flowing,  and  at- 
tractive style.  Judge  Parker  was  a  member  of  the 
church  in  Brattle  square,  Boston,  for  several  years : 
of  exemplary  morals ;  and  a  constant  attendant  on 
public  worship,  on  the  Lord's  day. 

PARKER,  Rev.  SAMUEL  D.  D.  was  born  in 
Portsmouth,  State  of  New  Hampshire,  and  had  his 
pubhc  education  in  Harvard  College,  where  he  re- 
ceived his  degree  in  1764.  He  took  holy  orders  af- 
ter the  forms  of  the  English  Episcopal  Church ;  and 
had  the  care  of  the  society  worshipping  in  Trinity 
Church,  in  Boston.  As  a  public  speaker  he  was 
graceful  and  dignified,  and  his  manner  was  popular. 


iCas- 
insive, 
>tance. 
38en  a 
irs,  re- 

Mar- 
^aine : 
>d.    In 
Bitejus- 
lusetts. 
lecUned 
Q  1814, 
i  court ; 
able  of- 
atly  la- 
s,  but  an 
posed  to 
id  sound 
Lis  death 
Ihe  was 
jdge  he 
and  was 

or  mere 
zed  by  a 
,  and  at- 
irof  the 
years : 
idant  on 


born  in 
had  his 
re  he  re- 
orders af- 
rch;  and 
Trinity 
he  was 
popular. 


S,      NATHAN  FABIUR. 


813 


Few  of  his  sermons,  or  any  other  of  his  writings 
were  published.  He  was  rigidly  tenacious  of  the 
forms  and  ceremonies  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  and 
yet  was  too  intelligent  to  confine  salvation  to  the 
members  of  that  particular  communion,  as  some 
high  churchmen  have  done.  He  was  constituted 
bishop  of  the  New  England  and  eastern  churches,  in 
1800 ;  but  did  not  long  survive  his  election  to  this 
spiritual  office.  He  died  in  1805,  at  the  age  of  six- 
ty-two. 

-Rev.  Dr.  Edward  Bass  of  Newburyport,  was  the 
only  bishop  in  New  England,  before  Bishop  Parkejr. 

PARKER,  Rev.  NATHAN  D.  D.  had  his  pub- 
lic education  in  Harvard  University,  and  was  grad- 
uated in  1803,  with  the  reputation  of  a  diligent 
student  and  a  good  scholar.  In  1805,  he  was  chosen 
a  Tutor  in  Bowdoin  College,  and  continued  in  that 
station  two  years.  He  was  an  able  instructer,  and 
had  the  respect  of  his  pupils.  In  1808,  he  received 
ordination  as  pastor  of  a  congregational  church  and 
society  in  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire,  and  sus- 
tained that  place  and  relation  until  his  death,  in 
1835.  He  was  no  less  faithful  and  able  as  a  theolo- 
gian than  as  a  teacher  of  youth. .  He  gave  his 
whole  heart  and  mind  to  his  profession ;  and  had 
the  character  of  a  faithful  and  affectionate  pastor. 
He  possessed  in  a  great  degree  the  kind  and  tender 
affections,  and  sympathized  deeply  with  all  in  afflic- 
tion and  under  bereavements.  With  these  traits  of 
character,  he  had  in  return,  as  might  be  expected, 
the  strong  attachment  of  his  people.  They  could 
not  indeed  but  love  a  man,  who  cared  so  much  for 
them  ;  and  so  constantly  labored,  for  their  spiritual 
improvement  and  welfare.  Several  of  his  discourses 
wer«°i  published  during  his  life ;  and  after  his  decease, 
a  voiume  of  his  sermons  was  published,  which  were 
chiefly  of  a  practical  nature,  and  calculated  to  ex- 
27 


J 


t   11 


I 
t 

I 


III 

'I 


314 


W.  PARKER— S.  H.  PARSONS. 


II 
nil. 


cite  religious  feelines,  and  to  persuade  to  a  holy  life 
and  conversation.   He  died  at  the  age  of  fifty. 

PARKER,  Hon.  WH.LIAM  of  Exeter,  State  of 
New  Hampshire,  received  an  honorary  degree  of 
Master  of  Arts  from  the  corporation  of  Harvard 
College,  in  1763.  His  reputation  for  learning,  and 
especially  his  high  standing  as  a  lawyer,  justly  en- 
titled him  to  this  notice.  He  was  at  the  head  of 
the  legal  profession  in  New  Hampshire  in  his  day ; 
and  had  a  seat  on  the  bench  of  the  Supreme  Court 
in  that  province.  In  all  parts  of  New  England,  the 
members  of  the  bar  were  less  learned  seventy  years 
ago  than  they  now  are.  Some  of  them  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  the  law,  after  two,  and  even  one  year's 
preparation.  And  the  judges  even  of  the  highest 
court  in  Massachusetts  before  the  Revolution,  were 
without  an  early  legal  education.  This  was  true  of 
Oliver  and  Hutchinson,  who  were  successively  Chief 
Justices.  Trowbridge  and  William  Gushing  had 
been  well  educated  for  the  profession  before  they 
were  appointed  to  the  bench.  Judge  Parker  possess- 
ed social  qualities,  which  rendered  him  a  pleasant 
companion,  and  attached  to  him  personally  all  pro- 
fessional men  and  scholars  in  his  vicinity. 

PARSONS,  SAMUEL  HOLDEN  was  a  son  of 
Rev.  —  Parsons,  some  time  of  Lyme,  Connecticut, 
and  afterwards  pastor  of  a  Church  and  society  in 
Newburyport  ;  and  an  able  and  zealous  minister. 
The  son  received  his  public  education  in  Harvard 
College,  and  was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1756. 
He  engaged  in  the  profession  of  the  law,  and  settled 
in  Middletown,  in  Connecticut.  He  there  continued 
in  good  business  and  with  a  good  reputation,  till  the 
war  of  the  Revolution. 

He  entered  the  army  at  an  early  period,  and  was 
sometime  an  aid  to  General  Washington,  the  com- 


TUB0PHILU8   PAH80NS. 


315 


ly  life 


ate  of 
ree  of 
irvard 
g,  and 
tly  en- 
lead  of 
8  day ; 
J  Court 
nd,  the 
\f  years 
aged  in 
B  year's 
highest 
n,  were 
I  true  of 
[y  Chief 
mg  had 
ire  they 
possess- 
pleasant 
■^all  pro- 


a  son  of 
necticut, 
ociety  in 
ninisier. 
Harvard 
of  1756. 

settled 
ontinued 

till  the 

and  was 
the  com- 


mander-in-chief. In  the  course  of  the  war,  he  was 
appointed  Major-General,  and  held  the  commission 
till  the  peace  in  1783.  He  had  the  reputation  of  a 
good  scholar,  a  hrave  officer,  and  a  sincere  patriot, 
when  the  war  was  over,  most  of  the  officers  were  ob- 
liged to  seek  for  employment ;  for  Congress  could 
only  give  them  paper  for  the  wages  due  them ;  which 
was  worth  only  two  and  sixpence  on  the  pound,  un- 
til the  federal  government  was  established,  and 
means  provided  to  pay  the  public  debts.  General 
Parsons  went  early,  1787,  with  others  to  the  North 
West,  and  settled  on  or  near  the  Ohio  river.  He 
was  soon  after  appointed  Governor  of  that  Territory 
by  Congress.  He  was  drowned  in  1789,  in  Big 
Beaver  creek,  in  that  territory.  The  early  death  of 
General  Parsons,  and  General  James  M.  Yarnum, 
January  1789,  then  a  judge  of  the  territory,  was  a 
great  calamity  to  that  infant  settlement.  ,^ 

PARSONS,  Hon.  THEOPHILUS,  L  L.  D.  was  a 
son  of  Rev.  Moses  Parsons  of  Newbury ;  and  being 
fitted  for  college  by  Samuel  Moody,  master  of  Dum- 
mer  Academy  in  that  town,  entered  the  University  in 
1765,  and  received  his  first  degree  in  1769.  He  en- 
gaged in  the  profession  of  the  law ;  and  was  reputed 
the  most  learned  and  profound  lawyer  ever  prac- 
tising or  resident  in  Massachusetts.  He  was  in  the 
practice  and  at  the  bar,  about  thirtyr-two  years, 
when,  in  1806,  he  was  appointed  chief  justice  of  the 
Supreme  Judicial  Court.  His  practice  was  very  ex- 
tensive and  his  business  lucrative,  yet  he  gave  much 
time  to  the  public  service.  He  was  a  representative 
from  Newbury  port,  in  1778,  and  several  years  after 
that  time.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  conven- 
tion for  forming  the  constitution  of  Massachusetts,  in 
1779-80 ;  and  of  the  convention  for  adopting  the 
federal  constitution,  in  1788.  He  was  an  able 
statesman,  a  learned  jurist,  and  a  powerful  attorney. 


t  ' 


316 


GEORGE     PARTRIDGE. 


And  his  reputation  for  probity  was  as  high  as  for 
talents  and  legal  learning.  Several  literary  societies 
enrolled  his  name  on  their  list  of  members ;  and  he 
also  had  a  seat  in  the  corporation  of  Harvard  Univer- 
sity. He  was  a  sincere  and  efficient  friend  of  that 
institution.  But  the  highest  praise  perhaps,  to 
be  bestowed  on  his  memory  is,  that  he  was  a  sin- 
cere, devout,  and  humble  christian — receiving  tht*^ 
revelation  by  Jesus  Christ,  as  the  greatest  privilege 
and  blessing  ever  granted  to  erring,  sinful  maii, 
whose  reason  was  not  sufficient  to  guide  him  in  the 
way  of  truth  and  virtue  and  eternal  life. 

PARTRIDGE,  Hon.  GEORGE  was  a  native  of 
Duxbury,  in  the  County  of  Plymouth,  and  received 
his  public  education  in  Harvard  CoHege,  with  the 
class  of  1762.  After  he  left  the  unive^aity,  he  pass- 
ed several  years  in  the  instruction  of  youth,  in  town 
schools,  a  part  of  the  time  in  his  native  place.  He 
took  an  early  part  in  the  political  controversy  with 
Great  Britain,  and  was  always  decided  in  support 
of  civil  liberty,  and  charter  rights.  When  the 
odious  stamp  act  passed  in  1765,  he  joined  the  warm 
whigs  in  opposing  it ;  and  when  the  act  was  repeal- 
ed in  1766,  he  got  up  a  public  meeting  for  rejoicing. 
After  this  period,  the  British  ministry  adopted  other 
arbitrary  and  oppressive  measures,  and  parliament 
claimed  a  right  to  impose  taxes  of  all  and  every 
kind  upon  the  colonies,  and  to  legislate  for  them  in 
all  cases  whatever.  This  roused  the  patriotic  feel- 
ings of  the  whigs ;  and  they  often  met  to  consult  on 
measures  for  relief  and  defence.  In  the  latter  part 
of  the  year  1774,  after  the  Boston  port  bill  had  been 
passed  by  parliament,  shutting  up  the  harbor  of 
Boston,  and  counsellors  appointed  by  the  king,  in- 
stead of  an  election  by  the  Representatives  of  the 
people  in  the  province,  county  meetings  were  held 
m  most  of  the  coimties.    One  was  holden  at  Ply- 


JOHN   PATTERSON. 


317 


as  for 

)cieties 
ind  he 
Jniver- 
of  that 
aps,  to 
I  a  sit- 
ing thi'^ 
iTivileg« 
il  maii, 
a  in  the 


ative  of 
received 
with  the 
he  pass- 
in  town 
ice.    He 
sy  with 
support 
hen  the 
he  warm 
[s  repeal- 
ejoicing. 
[ed  other 
.rUament 
id  every 
them  in 
)tic  feel- 
tnsult  on 
ter  part 
lad  been 
[arbor  of 
king,  in- 
»s  of  the 
[ere  held 
at  Ply- 


month,  for  that  county,  and  Mr.  Partridge,  Wait 
Wadsworth,  and  Peleg  Wads  worth,  were  the  dele- 
gates chosen  to  attend  from  Duxbury.  Mr.  Par- 
tridge was  also  a  delegate  to  the  several  provincial 
Congresses  in  Massachusetts,  held  at  Concord,  Octo- 
ber 1774,  at  Cambridge,  February  1775,  and  at 
Watertown,  in  May  1775.  All  these  meetings  of 
deputies  or  delegates  from  the  several  towns  in  the 
province,  were  for  the  purpose  of  adopting  measures 
in  defence  and  for  the  preservation  of  political  liber- 
ty ;  such  as  the  people  had  enjoyed  from  the  first 
settlement  of  the  country.  Mr.  Partridge  was  an 
active  member  of  all  these  bodies ;  frequently  on 
committees,  and  not  seldom  the  chairman,  by  whom 
the  reports  and  resolutions  were  written.  When  a 
House  of  Representatives  was  formed,  he  was  a 
member,  and  continned  to  be  chosen  four  years, 
when  he  was  elected  a  delegate  from  Massachusetts 
to  the  Continental  Congress.  In  1780,  he  was  ap- 
pointed Sheriff  of  the  County  of  Plymouth ;  and 
held  the  office  several  years,  with  great  acceptance 
to  the  people.  He  was  also  a  representative  to  Con- 
gress, for  several  terms,  after  the  adoption  of  the 
federal  constitution,  in  1789.  Mr.  Partridge  was  a 
professor  of  religion  ;  and  his  life  and  conversation 
were  agreeable  to  his  holy  profession.  He  died  in 
1828,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  :  and  bequeathed 
a  large  part  of  his  estate  to  the  Congregational  So- 
ciety, and  for  supporting  a  high  school,  in  Duxbury. 
He  also  left  a  legacy  to  the  theological  school  at 
Cambridge. 

1  PATTERSON,  Gen.  JOHN  was  a  citizen  of  the 
County  of  Berkshire.  He  took  a  decided  part  with 
the  whigs  of  Massachusetts,  in  1774,  in  remon- 
strating against  the  oppressive  measures  of  the  British 
government,  and  in  contending  for  the  continuance 
of  the  liberties  of  the  country.  He  represented  the 
27* 


318 


ELIPHALET  PEAS80N. 


■i'/i 


town  of  Lenox  in  the  first  and  second  provincial 
Congresses  in  Massachusetts,  October  1774,  and  Feb- 
ruary  1775.  When  it  was  recommended  by  the  first 
Congress,  November  1774,  to  raise  men,  to  be  armed 
and   trained,  if  necessary  for   the  defence  of  the 

^  province,  Mr.  Patterson  had  a  Colonel's  commission ; 
and  in  1775,  or  1776,  he  was  appointed  Brigadier- 

'  General.  He  appeared  at  Cambridge,  with  a  regi- 
ment, at  an  early  day,  after  the  assembling  of  the 
militia  at  that  place  and  vicinity,  in  May  1775,  un- 
der General  A.  Ward.  When  the  organization  of 
the  continental  army,  under  General  Washington, 
took  place,  in  July  1775,  he  had  a  commission  as 
Colonel ;  and  was  soon  after  advanced  to  the  rank  of 
Brigadier-General ;  and  continued  in  the  army  until 
the  peace  in  1783.  He  acted  a  conspicuous  part  in 
putting  down  the  insurrection  in  the  western  part  of 
the  State  of  Massachusetts,  in  1786,  headed  by  Cap- 
tain Daniel  Shays.  It  is  honorable  to  the  character 
of  the  military  officers  of  the  Revolution,  that  they 
very  generally  appeared  in  support  of  the  laws,  of 
government  and  order,  at  that  critical  period. 

PEARSON,    ELIPHALET    LL.    D.    had  his 

early  classical  education  in  the  Dummer  Academy, 
at  Newbury,  under  Mr.  Moody,  and  took  his  first 
degree  in  Harvard  College,  1773.  He  was  principal 
of  the  Andover  Academy  several  years, — then  elect- 
ed Professor  of  Hebrew  and  other  oriental  languages, 
in  Harvard  College,  and  teacher  of  the  English 
language  and  of  composition.  He  continued  in  the 
professor's  chair  about  twenty  years,  with  a  reputa- 
tion of  a  good  philological  scholar,  and  of  a  critical 
taste  in  composition.  In  1807,  he  was  elected  pro- 
fessor of  sacred  literature  in  the  theological  institu- 
tion, then  established  at  Andover.  He  preached 
occasionally,  but  was  never  the  regular  pastor  of  a 
church.    His  instructions  given  to  the  students  of 


WILLIAM    D.    PECE. 


319 


un- 


Ld  his 
kdemy, 
IS  first 
jincipal 
elect- 
;iiages, 
Ingtish 
in  the 
reputa- 
sritical 
Id  pro- 
Institu- 
sached 
)r  of  a 
intfl  of 


the  college,  in  the  English  language,  were  highly 
useful  to  them ;  but  he  was  thought  sometimes  to 
be  unnecessarily  severe  in  his  criticisms  on  their 
writings.  Dr.  Pearson  possessed  a  strong  mind,  was 
a  sound  logician,  and  in  philology  excelled  most  of 
the  scholars  of  his  time.  He  belonged  to  several  lit- 
erary  and  religious  societies ;  and  was  never  satis- 
fied without  contributing  something  in  promoting 
the  objects  for  which  they  were  instituted.  He  was 
accused,  by  some  individuals,  of  changing  his  theo- 
logical views  and  opinions — that  he  was  at  one  time 
liberal,  and  then  very  orthodox,  and  then  again  in 
the  latter  part  of  his  life,  more  liberal.  But  this 
charge  was  probably  made  in  that  his  opinions  were 
moderate,  and  in  his  desire  to  bring  about  a  union 
among  all  good  men  and  real  christians.  A  short 
time  before  his  death,-  he  invited  the  writer  to  pass 
a  few  days  with  him  In  the  country,  with  a  view  to 
agree  on  some  plan  or  nic  sure  for  greater  union 
among  christians  of  difTurent  speculative  views,  that 
they  might  act  more  in  concert  Dr.  Pearson  died 
in  1826,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight. 

PECK,  WILLIAM  D.  a  naJive  of  Boston,  had 
his  public  education  in  Harvard  College,  and  was 
graduated  in  1782.  He  studied  medicine  sometime 
with  Dr.  Cutter  ^rtsmouth,  but  never  engaged 

in  the  practice.  ^'(  sometime  he  gave  his  attention 
to  commercial  u  icerns,  and  was  in  the  store  of 
Thomas  Russell,  one  of  the  first  merchants  in  Bos> 
ton.  After  spending  some  years  in  comparative  re- 
tirement, he  visited  Europe,  and  spent  sometime 
in  travelling  through  different  parts  of  that  conti- 
nent. His  reading  had  been  previously  directed  to, 
subjects  of  natural  history ;  and  while  in  Europe,; 
he  devoted  much  of  his  time  to  similar  inquiries. 
He  also  continued  his  attention  to  this  departmentj 
of  knowledge  after  his  return  to  America.    In  1805, 


320 


HERBERT  PELHAM. 


ii 


he  was  appointed  professor  of  Natural  History  in 
the  University  at  Cambridge ;  a  fund  having  been 
raised,  by  the  subscriptions  of  literary  and  liberal 
individuals,  for  such  a  professorship ;  and  he  con- 
tinued in  this  station  until  his  death,  in  1822,  when 
at  the  age  of  fifty-eight.  No  individual  in  this  part 
of  the  country,  was  so  thoroughly  acquainted  with 
entomology  as  Mr.  Peck.  But  he  made  no  ostentatious 
dispky  of  his  learning :  he  was  a  man  of  great 
modest]|r.  The  character  of  a  devout  Christian  may 
also  be  justly  given  him.  His  inquiries  and  studies 
on  the  works  and  laws  of  nature,  served  to  confirm 
his  faith  in  revelation.  He  was  not  bewildered  in 
his  religious  faith,  by  indulging  vain  speculations ; 
but  "  looked  through  nature  up  to  nature's  God." 
In  his  early  years,  when  in  retirement,  Mr.  Peck 
was  a  diligent  observer  and  student  of  nature,  and 
of  insects  of  the  minutest  kinds  and  forms,  which 
are  generally  overlooked.  He  studied  botany,  in 
which  he  was  aided  by  Rev.  Dr.  Cutler,  of  Ipswich  j 
but  entomology  was  his  favorite  pursuit.  -' 

PELHAM,  HERBERT  came  to  Massachusetts 
in  the  year  1639 ;  and  had  a  grant  of  land  in  Sud- 
bury, which  was  incorporated  the  same  year,  but 
had  a  few  settlerisl  previously  to  that  time.    It  is 

STobable  he  resided  in  that  place  some  time;  for 
ohnson  says  he  led  the  military  company  of  Sud- 
bury in  1614.  Pelham  was  of  a  noble  family  and 
related  to  the  Duke  of  Newcastle,  ''a  gentleman 
distinguished  by  his  family,  estate  and  the  qualities 
of  his  mind."  He  was  one  of  the  Massachusetts 
Company  in  England,  in  1629,  and  drew  up  some 
of  the  public  papers  ordered  by  the  company.  He 
had  a  seat  at  the  board  of  assistants  within  a  few 
years  after  his  arrival ;  and  in  other  ways  was  em- 
ployed in  public  business  for  the  colony.  He  re- 
turned to  England  in  1648.    The  second  Governor 


EBENEZER  PEMBEBTON. 


321 


lory  in 
ig  been 

liberal 
tie  con- 
J,  when 
his  part 
ed  with 
ntatious 
of  great 
ian  may 
I  studies 

confirm 
lered  in 
ilations ; 
s  God." 
tfr.  Peck 
;ure,  and 
s,  which 
jtany,  in 
tpswich ; 


■^■i-f 


ichusctts 
in  Sud- 
fear,  but 
e.    It  is 
imc;  for 
of  Sud- 
nily  and 
ntleman 
qualities 
chusetts 
ip  some 
ny.    He 
n  a  few 
wras  em- 
He  re- 
lovemor 


Winslow  of  Plymouth  Colony,  married  a  daughter 
of  Mr.  Pelham ;  and  her  beautifnl  portrait,  as  well 
as  that  of  her  husband,  painted  by  a  pupil  of  the 
celebrated  Vandyke,  in  1654,  is  in  a  room  of  the 
Historical  Society  of  Massachusetts,  in  Boston.  Oth- 
er members  of  the  Pelham  family  were  friendly  to 
the  cause  of  the  puritans,  and  to  the  early  inhabit^ 
ants  of  New  England. 

In  1645  and  1646,  Mr.  Pelham  was  one  of  the 
two  commissioners  for  Massachusetts  to  the  con- 
gress or  convention  of  the  four  United  Colonies  of 
New  England ;  the  first  and  preliminary  meeting 
of  which  was  in  1642,  to  consult  for  the  general  de- 
fence and  the  welfare  of  each  and  all.  Winthrop 
was  his  colleague  one  year,  and  Bellingham  the 
other.  After  his  return  to  England,  he  was  engaged 
with  Governor  Winslow,  of  Plymouth  Colony,  in 
forming  a  society  for  the  instruction  of  the  Indians 
in  the  Christian  religion. 

^' PEMBERTON,  Rev.  EBENEZER  D.  D.  re- 
ceived his  public  education  in  Harvard  College,  and 
took  his  first  degree  in  1721.  He  was  sometime  the 
pastor  of  a  Presbyterian  Church,  at  New  York  ;  and 
afterwards  removed  to  Boston,  and  was  minister  of 
the  Congregational  Society,  worshipping  in  the  new 
brick  church,  at  the  north  part  of  Boston.  Dr. 
Lothrop  was  his  colleague  for  several  years.  Dr. 
Pemberton  was  pastor  of  the  church  and  society  in 
Boston,  from  1754  to  1777,  and  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy-two  years.  He  was  a  popular  preacher  and 
a  faithful  pastor  :  he  also  had  the  reputation  of  a 
learned  theologian.  Several  of  his  discourses,  de- 
livered .on  public  occasions,  were  published — one  at 
the  artillery  election,  and  one  on  the  day  of  the  gen- 
eral election,  before  the  governor  and  members  of  the 
legislature.  '* 

'10  ^    ^ 


ut 


:->•{! 


322 


WILLIAM  PEPPERELL. 


PEPPERELL,  Sir  WILLIAM  a  citizen  of  Kil- 
tery,  in  Maine,  was  born  in  the  year  1696.  He 
early  engaged  in  trade  and  navigation,  and  acquired 
a  large  estate.  He  -was  enterprising  and  successful. 
He  had  not  the  privilege  of  a  collegiate  education, 
but  was  well  instructed  in  his  youth.  He  had  a 
taste  for  military  adventure,  and  was  sometime  an 
officer  in  the  militia.  When  the  bold  expedition 
against  the  French  fortress,  at  Louisbourg,  on  the 
island  of  Cape  Breton,  was  projected,  in  1745, 
Pepperell  was  appointed  to  command  the  troops 
from  New  England,  which  were  chiefly  from  Mas- 
sachusetts, with  the  title  of  General.  General  Wal- 
do was  second  in  command,  and  the  British  Admiral 
Warren,  co-operated  in  the  attack ;  which  proved 
successful.  The  ship  which  carried  General  Pep- 
perell and  suite,  was  under  command  of  Captain 
Rouse.  It  was  a  strongly  fortified  place,  and  was 
well  manned  by  French  troops.  The  expedition 
was  generally  deemed  a  hold  one,  and  by  some  high- 
ly imprudent,  and  none  but  resolute  and  daring  men 
would  have  engaged  in  it.  The  American  troops 
amounted  to  nearly  four  thousand,  and  the  number 
of  armed  vessels  and  transports  was  about  thirty, 
but  most  of  them  under  ihree  hundred  tons.  Gen- 
eral Pepperell  conducted  with  equal  judgment  and 
bravery ;  and  the  success  was  in  a  great  measure 
owing  to  his  precaution  and  his  previous  arrange- 
ments. Some  of  the  British  officers  in  England 
were  unwilling,  afterwards,  to  allow  much  credit  to 
him  for  that  fortunate,  event ;  but  Admiral  Warren 
was  always  ready  to  render  due  merit  to  Pepperell 
for  his  good  condiiC't;  on  the  occasion.  General  Pep- 
perell received  the  honors  of  knighthood,  when  on 
a  visit  to  England  after  this  brilliant  aflair,  from 
king  George  II ;  and  was  esteemed  by  his  fellow  citi- 
zens, higit  and  low,  for  his  generosity,  benevolence, 
and  honorable  deportment  in  the  various  relations  of 
life.    He  died  in  1759,  aged  sixty-three. 


J4C0B  PERKINS. 


823 


f  Kit- 
.    He 
(juired 
essful. 
;ation, 
had  a 
me  an 
edition 
on  the 
1745, 
troops 
ft  Mas- 
%\  Wal- 
Idmiial 
proved 
al  Pep- 
Captain 
nd  was 
:pedition 
ne  high- 
ing  men 
L  troops 
number 
thirty, 
Gen- 
ent  and 
[measure 
rrange- 
Sngland 
redit  to 
Warren 
'epperell 
ral  Pep- 
rhen  on 
ir,  from 
low  citi- 
ivolence, 
.tions  of 


PERKINS,  JACOB  was  bom  in  Ipswich,  in 
1766,  of  respectable  parents,  who  removed  to  Nevr- 
buryport,  while  he  was  quite  young.  He  early  dis* 
covered  an  inquisitive  and  ingenious  spirit;  and 
was  called  a  smart  boy.  His  companions  said  he 
excelled  in  feats  of  sport,  but  was  fair,  open,  and 
kind-hearted.  He  was  put  an  apprentice  to  a 
watchmaker,  when  about  fourteen  years  old ;  and 
at  his  leisure  hours  made  beads,  which  proved  a 
profitable  business.  The  ladies  were  his  customers, 
and  they  seldom  spare  the  dollars  and  cents,  when 
anything  showy  or  fashionable  is  to  be  purchased. 
Females,  young  and  old,  poor  and  rich,  then  wore 
beads.  He  also  invented  a  method  of  plating  riioe- 
buckles,  which  were  then,  in  1786,  universally 
worn,  and  of  a  large  size,  almost  covering  the  upper 
part  of  the  shoe.  In  1786  and  1787,  Mr.  Perkins 
was  employed  in  preparing  dies  for  silver  coins,  then 
issued  from  a  mint  in  Massachusetts,  by  the  author- 
ity of  the  State  government ;  but  on>  the  establish- 
ment of  the  general  government,  in  1789,  was  dis- 
continued, as  the  new  constitution  gave  the  right  of 
coining  money  exclusively  to  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States.  He  also  invented  a  nail-machine, 
by  which  nails  were  cut  and  headed  at  the  same 
time.  Most  of  his  inventions  were  successful.  He 
planned  and  prepared  the  check-plate  for  bank  bills, 
which  were  in  general  use  a  few  years  ago,  by 
banks  in  the  State  of  Massachusetts ;  and  they  served 
as  an  effec"  &1  preventive  to  counterfeiting.  Mr. 
Perkins  discovered  the  method  of  softening  and 
hardening  steel.  He  also  invented  the  bathometer, 
for  compressing  water,  and  he  first  proved  the  com- 
pressibility of  fluids.  He  resided  sometime  in  Bos- 
ton, Philadelphia  and  New  York ;  and  received  at- 
tentions and  encouragement  from  men  of  science  in 
those  several  places.  He  then  went  to  England, 
expecting  to  find  a  larger  theatre  for  the  display  of 


824 


JAMES   PEBKIN9. 


bis  inventive  powers.  And  has  there  received  a 
generous  psitronage,  and  been  noticed  by  several 
noblemen,  and  others,  who  were  eminent  in  their 
knowledge  of  natural  philosophy.  He  has  been 
employed  in  perfecting  engines  and  i.  machines  to  be 
worked  by  the  power  of  steam;  and  has  a  large 
manufactory  for  that  purpose.  Mr.  Perkins  may 
be  still  living;  but  as  he  has  departed  the  country, 
probably  not  to  return,  a  notice  of  him  is  thought 
proper,  though  an  exception  to  the  rule  proposed  in 
preparing  this  volume.  -  't^nilW^ 

PERKINS,  JAMES  a  native  of  Boston,  where  he 
usually  resided  till  his  death,  was  one  of  the  most 
enterprising  and  intelligent  merchants  of  that  town. 
He  engaged  largely  in  commercial  pursuits  soon  after 
the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  when  quite  a 
young  man  ;  and  he  and  bis  brother,  T.  H.  Perkins, 
fitted  out  the  first  vessels  which  sailed  from  Boston 
for  the  Pacific  ocean,  and  the  Northwest  coasts  of 
America ;  some  of  which  extended  their  voyage  to 
China.  They  were  then  young  men,  and  with  little 
capital,  compared  to  that  with  which  many  since  have 
engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits.  The  first  vessels 
they  sent  were  the  ship  Columbia,  Capt.  Kendrick, 
and  sloop  Washington,  Capt.  Gray.  They  sailed  in 
1786.  From  the  Northwest  coasts,  the  Columbia 
proceeded  to  Canton,  and  thence  returned  to  Boston. 
Other  vessels  were  sent  by  J.  &.  T.  H.  Perkins,  to 
the  Northwest  coast,  and  thence  to  China,  1789,  '90, 
'91,  &c.  ;  and  about  those  years,  and  later  still,  the 
same  company  sent  several  ships  directly  to  Canton, 
from  Boston,  by  which  large  quantities  of  tea,  silks, 
and  other  articles  were  imported  from  China  to 
the  United  States.  Messrs.  Perkins  were  concerned 
in  more  than  thirty  voyages  round  the  globe ;  going 
to  Peru  or  Chili,  or  Northwest  coasts  of  America, 
and  thence  to  Canton  and  to  the  United  States  by 


OLIVSR  H.    PERRY. 


325 


ived  a 
ieveral 
1  their 
5  been 
B  to  be 
I  large 
IS  may 
auntry, 
bought 
)sed  in 


here  he 
iie  most 
it  town, 
on  after 
quite  a 
Perkins, 
L  Boston 
poasts  of 
>yage  to 
,h  little 
ice  have 
vessels 
endrick, 
ailed  in 
olumbia 
Boston, 
kins,  to 
89,  '90, 
still,  the 
Canton, 
a,  silks, 
hina  to 
ncerned 
;  going 
merica, 
tates  by 


the  cape  of  Good  Hope.  They  had  a  house  in  the 
*'  celestial  empire"  from  1803  to  1827.  The  trade 
from  Salem  to  the  East  Indies  was  also  extensive  at 
the  same  time ;  but  several  vessels  from  that  town 
traded  to  Calcutta.  The  company  had  a  profitable 
trade  also  (o  the  West  Indies ;  and  Mr.Perkins  several 
times  visited  those  parts  for  the  more  effectual  ac- 
complishment of  commercial  objects.  Mr.  Perkins 
possessed  strong  mental  powers  and  correct  judgment. 
He  was  rather  a  practical  than  a  speculative  man ; 
but  he  had  a  good  knowledge  of  mankind,  and  the 
theorectic  principles  sufficient  to  decide  correctly  and 
successfully  in  the  enterprises  in  whicb  he  engaged. 
Mr.  Perkins  took  a  deep  interest  in  whatever  prom- 
ised to  be  useful  and  improving  to  his  fellow  man. — 
Few,  if  any,  had  more  of  a  public  spirit.  And 
though  not  in  the  highest  sense  a  literary  man,  he 
was  an  ardent  friend  to  literature ;  and  ready  to  give 
liberally  to  any  plans  for  increasing  the  means  of 
knovvdedge  and  science.  He  was  the  principal  pat- 
ron of  the  Athenaeum  in  the  city  of  Boston.  When 
first  opened,  William  S.  Shaw  was  an  active  mem- 
ber, and  collected  many  valuable  and  rare  volumes 
for  it.  But  Mr.  Perkins  was  the  most  liberal  donor 
to  the  institution.  He  gave  the  spacious  building 
where  the  library  is  now  kept,  the  value  of  which  is 
not  less  than  fifty  thousand  dollars.  As  a  merchant, 
and  in  his  intercourse  with  others  in  business,  he 
had  the  reputation  of  strict  probity  and  uprightness; 
and  he  manifested  the  most  honorable  feelings  in  all 
the  relations  of  life.  He  died  in  1822,  at  the  age  of 
sixty. 

PERRY,  OLIVER  HAZARD  was  a  natiire  of 
Newport,  Rhode  Island,  and  early  entered  the  naval 
service  of  the  United  States.  He  rose  rapidly,  from 
the  rank  of  Midshipman  to  that  of  Captain.  And, 
at  one  period,  had  the  title  of  Commodore.  At  the  be- 
28 


326 


OLIVER   H.    PERRY. 


ginning  of  the  war  of  1812-1815,  he  had  command 
of  the  naval  station  at  Newport,  where  the  armed 
ships  of  the  United  States  often  repaired  for  a  har- 
bor. But  he  soon  volunteered  his  services  in  the 
enterprise  undertaken  on  lake  Erie,  where  the  Brit- 
ish vessels  were  numerous  and  annoying  to  the 
Americans.  He  was  highly  conspicuous  for  his 
bravery  and  prompt  action,  in  a  naval  battle  on  that 
lake,  in  1813,  with  the  British  fleet  there.  The  suc- 
cess of  the  United  States'  naval  force  against  the 
British,  was  attributed  chiefly  to  his  decision  and 
activity.  The  contending  forces  were  nearly  equal, 
as  to  guns,  though  they  difiered  as  to  the  number  of 
yessels  engaged.  It  was  a  desperate  battle;  and 
many  men  were  slain,  both  of  the  Americans  and 
British.  Congress  voted  a  gold  medal  to  Captain 
Perry,  for  his  distinguished  energy  and  bravery  in 
conducting  the  attack ;  and  the  whole  country  was 
loud  in  his  praises,  and  ambitious  of  paying  him 
publi<i  honors.  Soon  after  the  war,  in  1818,  Cap- 
tain Perry  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the 
Java,  a  large  new  ship  of  forty-four  guns;  and  was 
sometime  in  the  Mediterranean ;  and  then  command- 
ed the  naval  force  of  the  United  States,  in  the  West 
Indies.  He  was  there  attacked  by  fever ;  and  died 
in  1820,  at  the  age  of  thirty-five.  Of  all  the  officers 
in  the  navy,  and  there  have  been  many  of  great 
bravery  even  in  early  life,  not  one  has  achieved 
more  brilliant  deeds,  or  at  a  more  youthful  age. 
And  the  only  part  of  his  conduct,  for  which  there  is 
cause  of  regret,  was  his  consenting  to  engage  in  a 
duel,  with  a  brother  officer,  which  he  believed  his 
honor  required  of  him  as  a  military  man.  There  is 
good  reason,  however,  to  suppose  there  was  no 
malice  on  his  part,  for  after  his  antagonist  had  fired, 
Perry  discharged  his  pistol  in  the  air.  This  is  some 
alleviation  in  his  case ;  but  there  is  no  reasonable 
apology  for  a  duel,  on  any  occasion. 


J.    PHILLIPS — S.    PHILLIPS. 


327 


PHILLIPS,  Hon.  JOHN  was  a  native  of  Hoston, 
and  bad  his  public  education  in  Harvard  College,  in 
the  class  of  1788.  He  studied  law  and  engaged  in 
the  practice  in  Boston.  But  early  entered  on  a  more 
public  course  ;  being  a  member  of  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives and  of  the  Senate  in  Massachusetts ;  and 
several  years  president  of  the  latter ;  a  justice  of  the 
Oourt  of  Common  Pleas,  for  Suffolk  county ;  {ind 
Mayor  of  Boston,  on  its  receiving  a  city  corporation 
and  powers.  He  died  suddenly  in  1823,  when  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Senate.  At  the  time  of  his  decease,  he  was 
a  respected  member  cf  the  Congregational  Church  in 
Brattle  square,  of  the  corporation  of  Harvard  Col- 
lege and  of  the  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences. 

Few  were  as  estimable  in  private  life — cherishing 
kind  and  social  feelings,  he  was  a  valuable  friend, 
and  the  endeared  head  of  an  amiable  family.  When 
children  are  correct  and  estimable  in  their  deport- 
ment, much4s  always  due  to  the  conduct  and  exam- 
ple of  the  parents ;  not  of  the  mother  alone,  but  also 
of  the  father. 


■if  i}'/i'J< 


PHILLIPS,  Hon.  SAMUEL  L  L.  D.  a  native  of 
Andover,  whose  father  and  grandfather  were  highly 
xespectable  characters,  received  his  public  education 
in  Harvard  College,  in  1771 ;  with  the  reputation  of 
a  good  scholar,  and  .of  correct  moral  habits.  Mr. 
Phillips  was  a  delegate  from  Andover,  his  native 
town,  to  the  third  Provincial  Congress  of  Massachu- 
setts, which  was  held  at  Watertown,  in  May  1775, 
— and  at  that  time  was  probably  not  more  than 
twenty-four  years  of  age.  -But  even  at  that  age  he 
was  remarkable  for  sobriety,  prudence  and  stability 
of  character.  He  was  placed  on  several  committees 
of  importance,  indicative  of  the  high  sense  Congress 
had  of  his  abilities  aud  good  judgment.  From  that 
period,  for  twenty-six  years,  and  until  his  death  in 
1802,  he  held  public  office,  for  the  greater  part  of  the 


328 


WILLIAM  PHILLIPS. 


time  :  as  a  representative,  a  senator,  president  of  the 
senate,  counsellor,  judge  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas,  for  Essex  County,  and  Lieut.  Gov. ;  in  all  these 
offices  he  enjoyed  the  entire  confidence  and  respect 
of  the  people.  They  felt  that  the  public  interests 
were  safe  in  his  hands.  They  had  constant  evidence 
of  his  abilities,  and  of  his  devotion  to  the  public  wel- 
fare. Very  few  men  have  been  so  justly  entitled  to 
the  esteem  of  their  fellow  citizens ;  or  have  so  largely 
shared  in  it.  Mr.  Phillips  was  an  efficient  friend  of 
religion  and  learning.  As  a  professor  of  christiany, 
he  was  faithful,  exemplary,  and  apparently  blame- 
less. Many  of  the  public  men  of  the  last  generation 
were  moral,  public  spirited  and  religious  characters ; 
but  none  more  justly  entitled  to  it  than  Mr.  Phillips. 
t> 

PHILLIPS,  Hon.  WILLIAM  was  a  respectable 
merchant  in  Boston.  His  family  was  one  of  the  most 
eminent  in  Massachusetts,  from  the  first  settlement 
of  the  colony,  in  1630.     Rev.  George  Phillips  was  the 

f»astor  of  the  church  in  Watertown,  which  dates 
rom  the  first  year  of  the  plantation.  His  son  was 
minister  of  the  congregational  church  at  Rowley, 
and  his  grandson  of  the  church  at  Andover.  One  of 
his  ancestors  lived  in  Salem.  Mr.  Phillips  had  the 
esteem  and  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens;  and 
his  character  that  of  a  man  of  piety  and  probity. 
He  held  some  of  the  most  responsible  offices  in  Bos- 
ton ;  and  after  the  controversy  on  charter  rights  with 
the  parent  government  began,  in  1764,  he  was  often 
chosen  a  representative  of  the  metropolis  to  the  Gen- 
eral Court.  He  acted  with  the  whigs ;  and  for  his  de- 
cision and  zeal,  was  obnoxious  to  the  governor  and  his 
few  political  friends.  When  chosen  into  the  council,  in 
1773,  he  received  the  governor's  negative ;  but  still 
held  his  seat  as  a  representative.  He  was  in  the  upper 
branches  of  the  legislature  after  the  Revolution,  one 
or  two  years ;  when  his  advanced  age  induced  him 


W.    PHILLIPS — 8.    PHIPS. 


329 


him 


to  decline  all  public  office.  He  was  long  an  officer 
in  the  Old  South  Church,  in  Boston — and  his  life 
corresponded  with  his  profession  and  station.  He 
was  economical  in  his  family  expenses,  but  charita- 
ble to  the  poor  and  destitute. 

i  PHILLIPS,  Hon.  WILLIAM  a  son  of  the  above 
named,  was  educated  a  merchant ;  and  for  many 
years  was  engaged  largely  in  trade,  in  Boston.  A 
short  time  before  the  Revolution,  he  visited  Bngland 
and  other  parts  of  Europe,  for  the  purpose  of  improve- 
ment, and  of  a  more  extended  knowledge  of  his  profes- 
sional pursuits.  He  also  ranked  with  the  ardent 
friends  of  civil  liberty,  in  1775 ;  though  too  young 
to  take  a  leading  part  in  the  great  movements  of 
that  memorable  period.  In  his  life  and  conduct, 
he  also  exhibited  all  the  virtues  of  the  intelligent 
and  sincere  Christian.  And  in  alms-giving,  and 
in  donations  for  religious  and  charitable  purposes, 
he  was  surpassed  by  none.  He  gave  largely 
to  the  society  for  propagating  the  Gospel  among 
Indians  and  others  destitute  of  the  means  of  re* 
ligion;  of  which  he  was  many  years  a  member 
and  the  president.  After  the  age  of  fifty,  he  was 
several  times  chosen  one  of  the  representatives  of 
Boston  in  the  General  Court ;  and  in  1812,  Lieuten" 
ant  Governor  of  Massachusetts — to  which  station  he 
was  annually  elected  for  twelve  successive  years ; 
when  he  declined  the  election.  He  died  in  1827,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-six  years.  If  he  gave  much  and 
often,  it  was  without  ostentation  ;  his  charities  were 
frequently  bestowed  unknown  to  others,  except  to  the 
almoners  of  his  bounty.  He  left  a  son,  distinguished 
for  his  extensive  charities,  and  for  liberal  contribu- 
tions to  useful  public  objects ;  and  worthy  of  the  name 
so  much  and  justly  revered  for  many  generations. 

'I  PHIPS,  Hon.  SPENCER  was  a  nephew  of  Sir 

28  • 


330 


WILLIAM   PHIP8. 


William  Phips.  He  received  his  education  in  Har- 
vard College,  with  the  class  of  1703.  He  entered  on 
public  life  at  a  more  early  age  than  common. 

In  1733,  he  was  chosen  lieutenant  governor;  and 
continued  in  that  station  several  years,  while  Gov- 
ernor Belcher  and  Governor  Shirley  were  in  the 
chair  as  chief  magistrates.  A  part  of  his  time,  in 
the  absence  of  Governor  Shirly,  he  was  at  the  head 
of  the  executive  department  of  government.  He 
had  the  character  of  a  prudent  and  judicious  states- 
man; and  his  administration  was'generally  r.ccepta- 
ble.  During  his  administration,  the  Indians  in 
Maine  committed  hostilities  in  different  parts,  but 
were  conciliated  or  checked  by  the  prudent  and 
cautious  measures  of  Mr.  Phips.  On  his  decease, 
several  of  the  ctergv  of  Boston  published  funeral  dis- 
courses, in  which  tney  gave  him  the  character  of  an 
able  and  faithful  magistrate.  He  died  in  1757,  at 
the  age  of  seventy-three  years.  w»w 

PHIPS,  Sir  WILLIAM  was  born  on  the  banks 
of  the  Sheepscot  river,  a  little  eastward  of  the  Ken- 
nebec. His  father  was  a  ship-builder,  and  the  son 
worked  at  the  business  when  he  was  under  the  age 
of  twenty-one.  He  afterwards  engaged  in  a  sea- 
faring life,  and  soon  became  master  of  a  vessel  in 
the  West  India  trade.  He  was  active  and  enter- 
prising from  his  youth.  A  Spanish  merchant  ship, 
with  a  large  amount  of  the  precious  metals  on  board, 
was  sunk  or  wrecked  near  one  of  the  islands,  at 
that  period ;  and  Phips  with  others,  undertook  to 
search  for  it, — they  were  eventually  successful ;  and 
thus  he  became  possessed  of  a  large  property ;  which 
sometimes  gives  a  man  consequence,  though  of  ordi- 
nary intellect,  or  very  limited  education.  Mr.  Phips 
commanded  an  expedition  against  the  French  at 
Port  Royal,  in  1690 ;  which  was  attended  with  suc- 
cess.   Afterwards,  in  1690,  he  went  against  Quebec 


TIMOTHY   PICIBBINO. 


^i 


in 


with  a  naval  force  and  troops,  under  command  also  of 
General  Walley,  and  Major  Savage,  but  the  expedi- 
tion was  not  well  conducted,  and  bad  weather 
occurred,  and  no  glory  or  profit  was  gained.  In 
1692,  Sir  William  was  appointed  Governor  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, under  the  second  charter,  granted  at  that 
time.  He  held  the  office  about  three  years,  but  was 
not  in  all  respects  acceptable,  nor  fully  competent 
for  the  station.  He  was  considered  a  brave  man, 
but  not  of  sufficient  political  experience,  or  general 
information  to  qualify  him  for  the  chief  magistracy 
of  the  province.  He  died  in  1694,  in  Englana, 
whither  he  had  repaired,  to  explain  and  justify  some 
parts  of  hk  1  official  conduct,  oi  which  great  complaints 
had  been  made.  ^  1 

PICKERING,  Hon.  TIMOTHY  L  L.  D.  was  a 
citizen  of  Salem,  Massachusetts,  and  received  a  de- 

Sree  in  Harvard  College,  in  the  year  1763.  In  the 
ispute  with  Great  Britain  of  1770-1776,  he  early 
took  a  decided  part  in  support  of  colonial  rights. 
He  was  one  of  five  delegates  irom  Salem,  to  a  Con- 
vention in  Essex  County,  September  1774,  **  to  con- 
sider and  determine  on  such  measures  as  should  ap- 
pear to  be  expedient  for  the  rounty  to  adopt,  at  that 
alarming  crisis."  The  othei  lelegates  from  Salem, 
were  Richard  Derby,  Jr.,  John  Pickering,  Jr.,  Capt. 
Jonathan  Gardner  and  Capt.  Richard  Manning.  Mr. 
Pickering  gave  attention  to  military  tactics,  as  did 
many  other  men  of  education  at  that  period.  He 
prepared  a  treatise  on  military  discipline,  which  was 
highly  approved.  He  early  held  a  military  commis- 
sion in  the  militia ;  and  when  a  detachment  of  British 
troops  was  sent  from  Boston  to  seize  some  military 
stores  in  Salem,  February  1775,  he  collected  a  compa- 
ny of  men  to  oppose  them.  He  stationed  them  at  a 
bridge  which  the  British  must  pass  to  take  the  stores ; 
and  did  oppose  them ;  and  had  not  Rev.  Dr.  Barnard, 


332 


TIMOTHY    riCKEBINO. 


by  mild  language  pursuaded  the  British  officer  to  desist 
from  his  intended  purpose,  there  would  no  doubt  have 
been  a  collision  of  force  ;  and  the  plains  of  Lexing- 
ton had  not  been  the  first  spot  wet  with  the  blood  of 
the  free  citizens  of  Massachusetts,  in  1776.  On  the 
alarm  of  that  day,  April  19th,  Colonel  Pickering  col- 
lected two  hundred  or  three  hundred  men  and  marched 
to  Medford,  to  act  as  the  exigency  should  require.  But 
they  did  not  reach  that  place  till  late  in  the  day,  when 
no  efficient  assault  could  be  made^  The  British  troops, 
largely  recruited,  returned  in  a  body  to  Charlestown, 
that  afternoon.  Colonel  Pickering  was  in  the  Conti- 
nental army  through  the  war;  and  was  sometime  Ad- 
jutant General  and  Quarter  Master  General  of  that 
army.  At  an  early  period  of  the  federal  government, 
formed  in  1789,  he  was  made  Post  Master  General ; 
then  Secretary  of  War — then.  Secretary  of  State  of 
United  States.  And  some  time  after  he  retired  from 
the  last  named  office,  he  was  chosen  a  Representative 
and  a  Senator  in  Congress,  where  he  held  a  seat  several 
years.  In  all  there  stations,  he  conducted  with  sin- 
gular ability  and  fidelity.  He  had  strong  powers  of 
mind,  and  extensive  information.  For  two  or  three 
years,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Supreme  Executive 
of  Massachusetts.  Few  men  were  so  much  in  thtf* 
public  service  as  Colonel  Pickering. — From  1774  to 
1^0,  there  were  but  few  years  when  he  was  not  in 
some  important  office.  He  died  poor,  but  with  an 
honorable  fame,  as  a  true  patriot  and  an  incorrupti- 
ble public  officer.  He  had  habits  of  great  industry, 
and  often  labored  on  his  farm  several  hours  in  a  day 
after  he  was  seventy-five.  Mr.  Pickering  died  in 
1829,  at  the  age  of  eighty-three.  John  Pickering  of 
Salem,  was  his  older  brother ;  and  he  also  had  sev- 
eral sons ;  one  of  whom,  Hon.  John  Pickering,  may 
be  classed  among  the  most  learned  men  in  the  coun?. 


BETH  POMEROT. 


33d 


POMEROY,  General  SETH  was  a  citizen  of 
Northampton ;  and  was  sometime  an  officer  in  the 
war  of  1766-1763.  He  early  engaged  with  de- 
cision and  ardor  in  defence  of  Colonial  rights,  when 
the  political  dispute  began  between  Massachusetts 
and  the  British  ministry,  as  to  the  authority  of  that 
government  over  the  Colonies ;  especially  in  imposing 
taxes  and  regulating  the  internal  concerns  of  the 
Province.  He  had  a  seat  in  the  first  and  second  pro- 
vincial Congresses,  as  a  delegate  from  Northampton. 
Joseph  Hawley,  Esq.,  was  also  a  delegate  from  that 
town  with  Colonel  Pomeroy.  In  October  1774,  the 
Provincial  Congress  voted  to  organize  an  army  from 
the  militia,  when  these  general  officers  were  chosen, 
viz :  Hon.  Jedediah  Preble,  Hon.  Artemas  Ward,  and 
Colonel  Seth Pomeroy ;  and  in  February  1775,  Colonel 
John  Thomas,  and  Colonel  Wm.  Heath  were  elected 
as  Brigadier  Generals.  In  November,  he  was  one  of 
a  Committee  to  consider  how  the  manufacturers  in  the 
Province  might  be  improved.  In  February  1775,. 
General  Pomeroy,  and  the  other  general  officers,  were 
desired  to  recommend  proper  persons  to  be  appointed 
field  officers  in  the  army  then  proposed  to  be  raised. 
Twenty-two  regiments  were  reported,  in  May  1775, 
to  be  complete;  a  regiment  was  at  that  time,  also 
nnder  command  of  General  Ward,  of  General 
Thomas,  and  of  General  Heath.  But  soon  after  the 
Lieutenant  Colonel  of  each  was  appointed  to  the 
command  In  July,  three  citizens  of  Massachu- 
setts were  appointed  Brigadier  Generals  by  the 
Continental  Congress,  one  of  whom  was  Colonel 
Pomeroy,  General  Whitcomb,  and  R.  Gridley,  men 
also  advanced  in  life.  General  Pomeroy  did  not  con- 
tinue long  in  the  public  service.  He  was  far  ad- 
vanced in  years,  and  of  infirm  health.  He  had  been 
in  the  military  service  of  the  Province  in  the  war 
of  1766-'62.  So  also  had  Ward,  Thomas,  Prescott, 
Stark,  and  Preble. 


334 


J.  POWELL — B.  PRATT 


POWELL,  Hon.  JEREMIAH  was  an  inhn])itant 
of  North  Yarmouth,  Maine ;  and  a  sincere  friend  to 
the  liberties  of  the  country.  In  October  1774,  he 
was  chosen  by  the  provincial  Congress  a  member  of 
the  council,  then  elected  instead  of  the  mandamus 
counsellors,  so  called,  because  appointed  by  the  king 
and  his  ministers  in  England,  in  disregard  of  the 
provisions  of  the  province  charter.  Mr.  Powell  and 
Mr.  John  Erving,  were  also  among  the  mandamus 
counsellors ;  which  is  evidence  that  they  belonged 
to  the  m>oderaie  party  of  that  day.  When  an  execu- 
tive council  was  again  chosen,  in  July  1775,  by  the 
House  of  Representatives,  Mr.  Powell  was  elected  ; 
and  held  that  place  several  years,  by  an  annual 
election  of  the  Representatives ;  a  patt  of  the  time, 
he  was  president  of  that  honorable  board.  They 
acted  in  the  place  of  an  executive,  and  exercised  the 
power  usually  in  the  hands  of  the  Governor  and 
Council  united.  In  1780,  the  constitution  of  Massa- 
chusetts was  adopted,  and  a  Governor  was  chosen. 
Among  the  counsellors  of  1775,  '76  and  ^77^  were 
James  Bowdoin,  William  Seaver,  Samuel  Dexter, 
Benjamin  Greenleaf,  Samuel  Phillips,  Professor  John 
Winthrop,  Timothy  Danielson,  Benjamin  Austin, 
(senior,)  Artemas  Ward,  Richard  Derby,  Jr.,  James 
Prescott,  John  Adams,  Jedediah  Preble,  George 
Leonard,  Jedediah  Foster,  Caleb  Cushing;  but  all 
these  were  not  elected  for  those  three  years — A. 
Ward  was  in  the  military  line,  and  J.  Adams  a 
member  of  the  continental  Congress,  part  of  that 
time.  Mr.  Powell  died  at  North  Yarmouth,  in 
1784. 

PRATT,  BENJAMIN  was  a  native  of  Cohassei, 
formerly  part  of  Hingham,  and  received  his  public 
education  in  Harvard  College  with  the  class  of  1737.' 
He  had  the  character  of  a  learned  and  able  jurist ; — 
perhaps  no  one  had  a  higher  reputation  as  a  lawyer 


EDWARD  PRBBLE. 


335 


tant 
id  to 
L,  he 

€TOf 

king 
,f  Ibe 
Hand 
lamus 

longe^ 

Bxecu- 

by  the 

lected ; 

annual 

e  time, 
They 

ised  the 

[lOT  and 

f  Massa- 

I  chosen. 

7,  were 
Dexter, 

jsor  John 
Austin, 

r.,  James 
George 
;  but  all 
^ears — A. 
Adams  a 
it  of  that 
nouth,  iw 

Cohasset, 

le  jurist  •,— 
.sala^vyet 


in  his  time.  He  practised  several  years  in  Massa- 
chusetts, with  great  success ;  and  in  1768  was  ap- 
pointed Chief  Justice  of  the  Province  of  New  York. 
He  held  the  place  scarcely  two  years ;  having  died 
in  1770.  Before  his  time,  there  were  few  lawyers 
in  Massachusetts,  of  regular  and  proper  education  for 
that  honorable  profession.  Towards  the  close  of  the 
last  century,  and  especially  after  the  peace  of  1783, 
those  who  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  were  well 
educated,  well  informed,  and  not  only  as  to  the  statutes 
of  the  commonwealth,  but  in  the  principles  of  juris- 

{)rudence,  of  natural,  common,  and  constitutional 
aw :  as  John  Adams,  James  Otis,  Jr.,  William  Gush- 
ing, John  Lowell,  R.  T.  Paine,  Oxenbridge  Thacher, 
James  Sullivan,  Theophilus  Bradbury,  Fisher  Ames, 
Christopher  Gore,  George  A.  Minot,  Harrison  G. 
Otis,  d&c.  Mr.  Pratt  sometimes  indulged  in  poetical 
compositions;  but  few  of  his  productions  of  this 
kind  have  been  preserved. ' 

PREBLE,  Captain  EDWARD  was  a  native  of 
Portland,  and  a  son  of  General  Jedediah  Preble,  af- 
ter noticed.  When  very  young,  he  discovered  a 
degree  of  enterprize  and  boldness,  on  several  occa- 
sions, seldom  exhibited  in  a  youth  of  fourteen  or  fif- 
teen. He  studied  some  time  at  the  Dummer  Acade* 
my,  near  Newburyport,  under  Mr.  Moody,  a  fine 
classical  scholar ;  and  it  was  the  design  of  his  father 
io  give  the  son  a  collegiate  education;  but  young 
Preble,  it  appears,  preferred  a  more  active  life.  The 
war  of  the  Revolution  had  commenced ;  the  father 
was  a  patriot,  and  probably  nothing  loth  that  his 
son  should  engage  in  the  service  of  the  country.  As 
he  had  been  brought  up  in  a  seaport,  it  was  natural 
he  should  choose  to  enter  the  naval  department  In 
1779,  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  he  was  a  midshipman 
in  the  State  sloop  of  war  Protector,  commanded  by 
1.  F.  Williams ;  who  always  spoke  in  high  terms  of 


I 


S36 


EDWARD  PBEBLB. 


Preble,  as  a  youth  of  courage  and  firmness.    The 
Protector  was  taken,  on  her  second  cruise ;  and  the 
officers  imprisoned  at  New  York..    But  Mr.  Preble 
was  released,  after  a  few  months,  by  the  special  in- 
fluence of  a  friend  of  his  family ;  and  on  his  return, 
entered  on  board  another  sloop  of  war,  commanded 
by  George  Little.    Captain  Little  was  some  time  on 
tiie  coasts  of  Maine,  and  in  and  near  Penobscot  bay, 
.where  the  British  vessels  were  often  found.     Lieut. 
Preble,  with  a  few  men,  was  employed  to  attack  an 
armed  brig  of  the  enemy  in  one  of  the  harbors  there. 
Capt.  Little  run  alongside  the  brig,  and  Preble  and 
fourteen  men  leaped  on  board  her.     The  officers  and 
crew  of  the  brig  were  greatly  surprised,  and  unpre- 
pared to  make  very  formidable  resis^ce.     Lieut. 
Preble  behaved  with  remarkable  energy  and  prompt- 
ness— ^he  quelled  all  opposition,  and  took  possession 
of  the  vessel.    Some  of^  the  officers  and  men  leaped 
out  of  the  brig  and  swam  ashore.     When  Capt.  Lit- 
tle asked  if  he  wanted  more  men,  Preble  replied,  no 
.  —that  he  already  had  enough  to  work  to  advantage, 
and  that  he  would  carry  off  the  brig  with  the  few 
men  he  then  had.     The  British  vessel  was  taken  to 
Boston.     While  on  that  station.  Captain  Little  ren- 
,  4ered  much  service  to  the  American  coasters  and 
other  small  vessels  visiting  those  waters.    Luther 
Little,  a  brother  of  the  Captain,  was  a  Lieutenant 
with  Preble  on  board  of  the  same  State^  sloop  of  war 
:  —-and  three  braver  officers  perhaps,  could  not  be 
found  belonging  to  any  ship  of  war  of  the  United 
-  States.     Mr.  Preble  continued  in  the  station  men- 
tioned till  the  peace  in  1783 :  and  then  was  some- 
time commander  of  a  merchant  ship  on  foreign  voy- 
ages.   When  Congress  ordered  the  Navy  to  be  refit- 
ted and  increased  in  1798,  on  the  numerous  depreda- 
tions and  insolent  conduct  of  the  French,  several 
officers  were  appointed ;  and  Mr.  Preble  had  a  com- 
mission as  Lieutenant.    He  first  commanded  the 


EDWARD   PREBLE. 


337 


the 

eble 

lin- 

lurn. 

aded 

le  on 

bay, 

iieut. 

;kan 

there. 

B  and 

:s  and 

inpie- 

Lieut. 

rompt- 

session 

leaped 

)t.  Lit- 

ied,  no 

intage, 

he  few 

bken  to 

ile  len- 

!rs  and 

[Luther 
[tenant 
of  war 
not  be 
United 
men- 
some- 
;n  voy- 
._  refit- 
[epreda- 
several 
a  com- 
ied  the 


brig  Pickering ;  and  in  1799,  he  was  appointed  to  the 
command  of  the  Essex,  of  thirty-six  guns ;  in  which 
he  sailed  to  Batavia,  for  the  protection  of  American 
merchant  vessels  engaged  in  the  East  India  trade. 
He  returned  to  America,  in  feeble  health,  in  18()1 ; 
and  was  obliged  to  retire  from  public  active  service. 
But  on  the  return  of  health,  in  1803,  he  offered  him- 
self to  the  gcvernraent,  and  was  given  the  command 
of  the  Constitution.  In  the  course  of  the  year,  he 
was  ordered  to  the  Mediterranean,  where  the  Alger- 
ines  were  committing  depredations  on  American 
ccur  ^"**i ;  and  had  command  of  a  squadron  sent 
ther  hat  time.    He  held  negotiations  with  the 

Em;     ..of  Morocco  at  Tangiers,  which  produced 
friendly  relations  with  that  power.    Captain  Preble 
was  the  chief  officer  in  command,  when  the  attack 
was  made  at  Tripoli,  in  February  1804;  and  the 
frigate  Philadelphia  was  bijfnt,  which  had  been  cap- 
tured, and  was  lying  in  the  harbor,  and  in  possession 
of  the   Oey;  and  his  gun-boats  destroyed.     The 
Philadelphia  had  been  taken,  and  was  fitting  out  by 
the  Dey,  to  depredate  on  the  vessels  of  the  United 
States.     Captain  Preble  formed  the  daring  plan  to 
burn  her,  and  the  Tripolitan  gun-boats  at  the  same 
time — and  his  lieutenant,  afterwards  Captain  Deca- 
tur, was  entrusted  with  the  execution  of  the  hazard- 
ous enterprize.     He  was  sufficiently  bold  for  the  un- 
dertaking ;  and  success  attended  the  dangerous  expe- 
dition ;  to  the  honorable  fame  both  of  Preble  and 
Decatur.    Soon  after  this  event,  Captain  Preble  was 
relieved  in  his  service  on  that  station ;  and  returned 
to  the  United  States.     The  officers  of  the  squadron 
united  in  an  affectionate  and  respectful  address  to  him 
when  he  left  them.     He  always  maintain<*d  his  au- 
thority over  the  officers  under  him,  and  yet  possessed 
their  friendship  and  good  will.    After  his  return,  the 
health  of  Capt.  Preble  continued  to  decline,  and  he 
died  in  1807,  at  the  age  of  forty-five  years. 
29 


■WBWBWH 


338 


J.  PREBLE — J.  PRB8C0TT. 


PREBLE,  Hon.  JEDEDIAH  was  a  citizen  of 
Falmouth,  now  Portland,  and  a  distinguished  patriot 
of  1774-75.  He  was  chosen  the  first  Major-General 
of  the  Massachusetts  troops,  ordered  to  be  raised  for 
the  defence  of  the  Province,  in  November  1774,  but 
he  declined ;  and  General  Ward  was  next  elected. 
He  had  been  an  officer  in  the  French  war  of  1758- 
60 ;  and  afterwards  commanded  Fort  Pownall,  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Penobscot  river.  He  was  one  of 
the  council  in  1774,  chosen  to  act  instead  of  the 
mandamus  counsellors,  so  called,  appointed  by  the 
British  ministry.  He  was  again  chosen  in  1775. 
Gen.  Preble  was  one  of  five  military  men  appointed 
in  February  1775,  to  organize  and  command  the 
militia  called  out  by  the  Committee  of  Safety,  "to 
resist  any  attempts  to  enforce  the  oppressive  and  un- 
constitutional acts  of  the  British  ministry."  The 
others  were  A.  Ward,  S.  Pomeroy,  John  Thomas, 
and  W.  Heath.  General  Preble  had  feeble  health 
during  the  last  years  of  his  life ;  and  died  in  1784, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-seven. 

■m 

PRESCOTT,  Hon.  JAMES  was  of  Groton,  in 
the  county  of  Middlesex ;  and  a  representative  from 
that  town  in  the  General  Court,  many  years,  both 
before  and  after  the  commencement  of  the  war  of 
the  Revolution.  He  belonged  to  the  committee  of 
correspondence  chosen  by  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives, in  1773,  to  write  to  the  general  assemblies  of 
the  other  colonies.  In  May  1774,  he  was  one  of  the 
counsellors  elected  by  the  Representatives ;  but  re- 
ceived the  negative  of  Governor  Gage.  And  in 
1775,  he  was  one  of  the  board  of  the  executive 
council  chosen  by  the  House  of  Representatives ;  for 
they  did  not  recognize  the  mandamus  counsellors 
as  constitutionally  appointed.  He  had  a  seat  in  the 
convention  in  the  county  of  Middlesex,  in  August 
1774,  as  a  delegate  from  Groton ;  and  was  chosen 


oLinm  pRncoTT. 


339 


in 


president  of  that  patriotic  assembly — and  was  also  a 
member  of  the  three  provinciai  Congresses  holden  in 
Massachusetts,  October  1774,  February  1775,  and 
May  1776 — and  the  records  of  those  meetings  show 
that  he  was  an  active  and  efficient  member.  Mr. 
Prescott  was  a  member  of  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives, chosen  in  July  1775 ;  and  after  that  year  was 
several  times  elected  a  representative,  or  a  counsel- 
lor. After  the  constitution  of  Massachusetts  was 
adopted,  in  1780,  and  the  judicial  courts  organized, 
he  was  a  justice  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  for 
Middlesex  county ;  and  some  time  the  first  justice  of 
that  court.  He  was  highly  respected  for  his  intelli- 
g*ence  and  probity;  and  gratefully  remembered  as 
one  of  the  patriots  who  successfully  contended  for 
liberty,  in  1775. 

PRESCOTT,  Hon.  OLIVER  was  a  citizen  of 
Groton,  and  publicly  educated  at  Harvard  College, 
where  he  was  graduated  in  1750.  H^  chose  the 
profession  of  medicine,  and  had  the  reputation  of  a 
learned  and  skilful  physician.  He  engaged  zeal- 
ously in  the  dispute  with  Great  Britain,  and  acted 
in  concert  with  the  other  two  of  the  same  family, 
here  mentioned,  and  with  the  whig  party  at  that 
memorable  period.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  con- 
vention for  the  county  of  Middlesex,  holden  in  Au- 
gust 1774.  And  at  a  later  date  was  a  member  of 
the  legislature  of  Massachusetts.  In  1780,  he  re- 
ceived the  office  of  Judge  of  Probate  for  that  county ; 
which  he  held  for  more  than  twenty  years.  In  his 
character  and  deportment,  he  united  honesty  and 
fidelity  with  dignified  and  courteous  manners.  And 
as  judge  of  the  Probate  Court,  he  was  patient,  con- 
descending and  impartial.  He  belonged  to  the  med- 
ical society,  and  to  the  American  academy  of  arts 
and  sciences,  which  enrolled  among  its  members  the 
most  learned  men  in  the  State. 


340 


WILLIAM  PRK8C0TT. 


PRESCOTT,  Colonel  WILLIAM  was  a  citizen 
of  Pepperell,  in  the  county  of  Middlesex,  and  State 
of  Massachusetts.  He  took  a  decided  part  in  sup- 
port of  civil  liberty,  at  an  early  period  of  the  dis- 
I>ute  with  Great  Britain,  which  led  to  the  Revolu- 
tion. He  attended  the  Middlesex  convention,  as  a 
delegate  from  Pepperell,  in  September  1774 ;  and  the 
Provincial  Congress  at  Concord,  in  the  month  of  Oc- 
tober of  that  year.  Before  that  time  he  had  been 
chairman  of  the  committee  of  correspondence  in  that 
town.  He  seemed  particularly  fitted  for  command 
in  the  military  line ;  and  had  a  Colonel's  commis- 
sion in  May  1775,  with  authority  to  raise  a  regiment 
for  the  public  defence.  Twenty-two  regiments  were 
raised  at  that  time ;  and  three  more,  but  not  com- 
pletely full.  Colonel  Prescott  had  seen  military  ser-  , 
vice  in  the  war  of  1 756 ;  and  he  had  the  character 
of  a  man  of  energy  and  decision.  When  it  was  re- 
solved by  the  Provincial  Congress  and  Committee  of 
Safety,  on  the  16th  of  June,  to  take  possession  of 
Charlestown  heights,  and  to  fortify  the  place.  Colo- 
nel Prescott  was  appointed  to  command  the  detach- 
ment ordered  on  that  enterprise.  He  had  nearly  two 
regiments  under  his  command;  numbering  about 
fifteen  hundred.  He  had  recruits  furnished  on  the 
17th,  just  before  the  battle  began,  making  the  whole 
number  of  American  troops  a  little  more  than  two 
thousand ;  probably  two  thousand  five  hundred — ^but 
many  of  these  were  not  in  the  fortress,  thrown  up 
during  the  night  of  16th  and  morning  of  17  th,  and 
which  was  under  the  immediate  command  of  Pres- 
cott. Some  of  the  men  engaged  in  that  battle  were 
from  Connecticut,  and  some  from  New  Hampshire, 
and  General  Israel  Putnam,  of  Connecticut,  had  the 
superintendence  of  the  afiair,  and  of  the  troops  there 
ordered  and  assembled.  Colonel  Prescott  fully  and 
bravely  performed  the  dangerous  service  assigned 
him.     He  remained  in  the  fort,  commanded  in  the 


THOMAS   PUNCB. 


$11 


Ibrt,  and  most  heroically  defended  it,  till  the  ammu- 
nition of  his  men  was  wholly  exhausted,  and  it  he- 
came  a  duty  to  abandon  it.  According  to  the  most 
authentic  statement,  there  were  engaged  i  '  .  bat- 
tle,-—of  the  British  troops  three  thousand  iikst,  and 
a  reinforcement  of  one  thousand  more, — of  the  Ame- 
ricans, fifteen  hundred  at  first,  and  an  addition  of 
one  thousand,  just  before  the  battle  began.  Of  the 
British,  eighteen  hundred  and  fifty-one  killed  and 
wounded ;  eighty-five  of  which  were  commissioned 
officers — seven  hundred  and  forty-six  killed,  eleven 
hundred  and  five  wounded.  Of  the  Americans,  a- 
bout  three  hundred  and  twenty  killed,  wounded  and 
taken  prisoners.  Colonel  Prescott  continued  in  the 
army  the  greater  part  of  the  war,  when  feeble  health 
induced  him  to  retire  from  the  public  service.  He 
had  a  captain's  commission  under  General  John 
Winslow,  1756,  in  Nova  Scotia.  Colonels  Pomeroy, 
Ward  and  Thomas,  and  Captair  Gamaliel  Bradford, 
were  also  in  that  war. 

PRINCE,  Rev.  THOMAS  was  a  native  of  Sand- 
wich, in  the  old  colony  of  Plymouth ;  and  received 
his  public  education  in  Harvard  College,  where  he 
was  graduated  in  1707.  He  then  visited  Europe, 
and  was  absent  several  years.  In  this  tour,  he 
gained  much  knowledge  of  literary  men,  and  col- 
lected books,  not  to  be  purchased  in  America.  On 
his  return,  he  was  ordained,  in  1718,  over  the  con- 
gregational society  in  Boston,  worshipping  in  the  Old 
South  church.  The  celebrated  Dr.  Joseph  Sewall 
was  his  elder  colleague  pastor.  Mr.  Prince  was  a 
great  reader,  and  well  acquainted  with  history, 
especially  with  ecclesiastical  history.  But  he  was 
not  a  very  popular  preacher.  He  was  a  faithful 
pastor  and  zealous  and  exemplary  as  a  christian 
minister.  The  New  England  Chronicle,  prepared 
and  published  by  him,  is  accurate  as  a  compilation : 
29* 


342 


THOMAS  PRINCB. 


and  must  have  cost  him  much  labor :  but  a  great 
part  of  it  does  not  relate  to  New  England.  He  gives 
the  dates  of  important  events  from  the  beginning  of 
the  Christian  era,  from  the  time  of  Solomon,  of 
Moses  and  of  Noah ;  and  as  a  matter  of  reference  it 
may  be  found  useful.  He  had  a  great  regard  for  the 
character  and  principles  of  the  puritan  fathers  of 
New  England,  and  was  stungly  attached  to  the  con- 
gregational system  of  church  government,  as  most 
agreeable  to  primiti\re  and  apostolic  usage.  He  died 
in  1768,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two. 

[\ 

PRINCE,  or  PRENCE,  Hon.  THOMAS  who 
was  several  years  governor  of  Plymouth  colony, 
came  to  America  in  1621,  in  the  ship  Fortune,  with 
several  others  of  the  Leyden  church.  He  was 
rather  a  young  man  at  the  time ;  for  he  survived  to 
the  year  1673,  when  he  died  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
seven  years.  Soon  after  his  arrival,  he  married  a 
daughter  of  the  venerable  Elder  Brewster ;  and  he 
had  much  of  the  spirit  of  that  excellent  man.  It 
cannot  be  said  that  he  was  very  learned ;  but  he 
was  always  the  friend  and  advocate  of  learning. 
Common  schools  were  introduced  by  liis  influence, 
into  the  towns  in  Plymouth  colony ;  and  he  urged 
the  making  provision  for  their  support  while  he 
lived.  He  was  chosen  governor  of  the  colony,  in 
1634,  and  again  in  1638 ;  and  on  the  death  of  Gov- 
ernor Bradford,  he  held  the  place  of  chief  magistrate 
till  his  death,  in  1673.  For  several  years  after  his 
arrival,  he  lived  in  the  town  of  Duxbury,  situated 
on  the  north  side  of  the  bay  of  Plymouth ;  and  some- 
time also  at  Eastham,  in  the  county  of  Barnstable. 
But  while  governor  he  lived  in  Plymouth,  a  law  of 
the  colony  requiring  the  chief  magistrate  to  have  his 
residence  there.  When  illiterate  i)ersons  put  them- 
selves forward  as  public  speakers  in  the  church,  he 
as  well  as  Governor  Bradford,  and  Governor  Wins- 


ISRAEL     PUTNAM.     .A 


343 


low,  bore  testimony  against  it ;  and  was  always 
desirous  of  having  the  religious  teacher  a  man  of 
learning. 

PUTNAM,  General  ISRAEL  was  a  native  of 
Danvers,  Massachusetts,  but  early  removed  to  Pom- 
fret,  in  Connecticut,  and  became  a  farmer.  He  was 
several  years,  between  1755  and  1763,  in  the  mili- 
tary service  at  the  north  and  west,  when  war  raged 
between  England  and  France.  He  was  considered 
a  brave  officer,  and  was  often  in  imminent  danger 
from  the  Indians,  who,  at  that  period,  were  chiefly 
on  the  side  of  the  French,  through  the  influence  of 
their  priests.  When  the  aflair  at  Lexington  and 
Concord  took  place,  on  the  19th  of  April  1775,  he 
left  his  plough  and  repaired  immediately  to  Cam- 
bridge, where  the  militia  of  Massachusetts  were  col- 
lecting under  General  Ward.  He  soon  returned  to 
Connecticut,  and  collected  a  large  body  of  men,  and 
again  hastened  to  Cambridge,  to  assist  in  the  defence 
of  the  country.  At  the  battle  on  the  heights  of 
Charlestown,  on  the  17th  of  June,  he  was  present 
and  active ;  and  had  the  general  superintendence  of 
the  movements  on  that  ever  memorable  day.  While 
Colonel  Prescott  bravely  commanded  in  the  intrench- 
ment,  thrown  up  the  previous  night.  General  Putnam 
was  bringing  on  new  recruits  to  support  those  who 
wore  first  there,  and  directing  them  where  they 
would  probably  be  the  most  useful  in  checking  the 
British  troops.  He  remained  on  the  heights  till  the 
American  troops  had  made  good  their  retreat.  Soon 
after,  he  received  the  appointment  of  Major-General 
in  the  continental  army.  General  Washington  often 
gave  him  the  command  of  very  important  enter- 
prizes.  In  the  winter  of  '75  and  '76,  when  it  was 
proposed  to  make  an  attack  on  the  British  troops  in 
Boston  from  Cambridge,  it  was  intended  to  send 
two   divisions    under   Sullivan   and   Greene,    the 


344 


R.  PUTNAM — W.  PTNCHON. 


whole  to  be  under  the  direction  of  General  Putnam. 
He  appears  always  to  have  had  the  confidence  of 
Washington,  as  a  brave  and  judicious  officer.  His 
courage,  indeed,  was  never  doubted  by  those  who 
had  no  prejudices  against  him.  He  survived  the 
war  of  the  Revolution  several  years;  and  his  de- 
clining years  were  soothed  by  the  consoling  and 
cheering  hopes  of  the  gospel. 

i 

PUTNAM,  RUFUS  was  an  inhabitant  of  Rut- 
land, in  the  county  of  Worcester,  when  the  Revolu- 
tionary war  began  :  and  early  engaged  in  the  mili- 
tary servicer  for  the  defence  of  the  province,  and  the 
preservation  of  its  charter  rights.  In  1775,  he  had 
the  rank  of  Lieutenant  Colonel,  in  the  regiment  com- 
manded by  D.  Brewer :  and  in  1776  ho  had  a  com- 
mission as  chief  Colonel  of  a  regular  continental  regi- 
ment, in  the  Massachusetts  line  of  the  army.  He 
continued  in  the  public  service  till  the  close  of  the 
war,  in  1783.  He  had  the  reputation  of  a  brave  and 
resolate  officer ;  and  when  he  retired  from  the  field, 
he  had  the  rank  of  Brigadier  General.  In  1786, 
with  a  few  others,  who  had  been  officers  in  the 
Revolutionary  army,  he  made  a  settlement  on  the 
river  Ohio,  and  gave  it  the  name  of  Marietta.  He 
purchased  a  large  lot  of  land,  and  had  it  well  culti- 
vated. He  survived  to  the  age  of  eighty,  or  nearly 
that  period  of  years ;  and  was  much  esteemed,  not 
only  for  his  gallant  and  patriotic  services  in  the 
arnay,  but  for  his  virtues  as  a  citizen. 

PYNCHON,  WILLIAM  Esq.,  was  one  of  the 
original  patentees  of  the  territory  of  Massachusetts 
Bay ;  and  came  over  with  a  large  company  in  16^. 
With  some  others  of  the  company,  he  early  settled  at 
the  place  since  called  Roxbury.  He  was  one  of  the 
boara  of  assistants  to  advise  the  Governor,  and  aid 
hinik  in  the  administration  of  the  civil  affairs  of  the 


WILLIAM  PTNCHON. 


345 


colony.  He  continued  one  of  the  board  till  he  re- 
moved to  Springfield,  Agawam,  on  Connecticut  river, 
in  1636.  He  had  property  and  a  good  education, 
and  was  considered  one  ot  the  principal  characters 
in  the  colony  for  several  years.  He  visited  England 
between  the  years  1640  and  1650,  but  afterwards  re- 
turned to  Massachusetts.  In  his  theological  views, 
he  differed  from  all  or  most  of  his  contemporaries, 
on  one  point  deemed  important,  and  by  many  as  es- 
sential. He  considered  the  sufferings  and  death  of 
Christ  not  as  an  atonement,  according  to  the  ortho- 
dox or  Calvinistic  system ;  but  as  trials  of  his  obedi- 
ence, in  faithfully  performing  the  work  assigned  him 
by  God,  as  the  teacher,  and  Redeemer  of  mankind. 
His  great  sufferings  were  inevitably  connected  with 
the  faithful  performance  of  the  duty  given  him  to 
fulfil ;  and  he  was  obedient  even  unto  death ;  he  was 
faithful  to  his  divine  commission,  though  sufferings 
and  death  were  the  known  consequences  of  his  fidel- 
ity. Rev.  Mr.  Norton  was  appointed  to  answer  Mr. 
Pyncheon's  book ;  and  he  acknowledged  that  he 
had  expressed  himself  less  guardedly  and  accurately 
than  he  might  have  done ;  but  appears  not  to  have 
recanted  his  opinion.  He  wrote  a  reply  to  Mr.  Nor- 
ton's book,  and  expressed  nearly  the  same  views 
which  he  had  first  advanced. 


-ft- 


, '  iSifei 


.rS»»l'lt^ 


ia-  >t 


V 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


Q  R 

dUINCY,  JOSIAH  JuN.  Esq.  was  bom  at 
Braintree,  now  Quincy,  where  his  ancestors  hved 
for  four  or  five  generations ;  and  several  of  whom 
had  been  in  public  life.  He  received  his  public  edu- 
cation in  Harvard  College,  with  the  class  of  1763 : 
and  on  leaving  the  University  read  law  with  Oxen- 
bridge  Thacher,  Esq.  of  Boston.  At  an  early  age, 
he  had  the  character  of  a  good  scholar ;  and  when 
he  engaged  in  the  practical  duties  of  the  profession, 
the  expectations  of  his  friends  were  high  as  to  his 
future  usefulness  and  success.  In  1770,  when  ho 
had  been  but  about  five  years  at  the  bar,  he  was  en- 
gaged in  a  very  important  cause,  which  afforded 
evidence  of  his  high  standing ;  the  defence  of  Cap- 
tain Preston,  and  several  of  his  iv.on,  charged  with 
murder,  in  attacking  and  killing  several  inhabitants 
of  Boston,  March  6th,  1770.  Mr.  John  Adams  was 
joined  with  him  in  this  defence.  It  was  ably  con- 
ducted, and  the  accused  were  acquitted.  In  1774, 
he  visited  England,  by  request  of  some  patriotic  cit- 
izens, to  learn  the  plans  and  intentions  of  the  British 
government  towards  the  colonies  :  whether  the  pol- 
icy began  would  be  pursued ;  and  what  were  the 
opinions  of  the  people  of  England,  relating  to  the  dis- 
pute between  that  country  and  the  British  Ameri- 
can colonies.  After  passing  a  few  months  in  Eng- 
land, he  embarked  for  America,  but  did  not  live  to 
reach  his  home.    He  died  the  day  before  the  ship  ar- 


JOHN    BKBD. 


347 


' 


rived.  His  health  had  been  feeble  for  sometime. 
Mr.  Quincy  had  the  spirit  and  feelings  of  a  genuine 
patriot.  Though  of  an  ardent  temperament,  and 
warmly  devoted  to  the  cause  of  civil  liberty,  he  had 
a  good  degree  of  prudence,  and  perceived  the  im- 
portance ofopposing  the  measures  of  the  British  ad- 
ministration, not  only  with  decision  and  fir  mess, 
but  with  due  deliberation  and  caution.  'When  the 
people  were  much  excited,  and  their  feelines  pro- 
voked by  some  unexpected  event,  he  advised  hem 
to  use  moderation.  When  they  were  in  a  state  of 
apathy,  because  they  were  not  suffering  at  the  mo- 
ment, he  urged  them  to  watchfulness  and  consid- 
eration, as  the  plan  might  be  maturing  for  the  utter 
destruction  of  their  freedom. 

■'^READ,  JOHN  Esq.,  received  his  education  in 
Harvard  College,  with  the  class  of  1697.  He  enter- 
ed the  profession  of  law,  and  rose  to  great  eminence 
among  the  legal  gentlemen  of  his  time.  There  were, 
indeed,  few  great  lawyers  in  Massachusetts  at  that 
period.  Some  pleaded  their  own  cause  in  the  courts ; 
and  others  employed  such  as  had  confidence  to  speak 
in  public,  however  superficial  or  ignorant ;  especial- 
ly if  they  would  work  cheap.  Iriere  was  at  that 
period  an  unreasonable  prejudice  against  lawyers, 
and  they  were  not  properly  encouraged.  T'*ry  were 
seldom  chosen  legislators,  or  appointed  to  public  of- 
fice in  the  government.  Mr.  Read  was  chosen  a  Rep- 
resentative in  the  General  Court,  for  Boston,  in  the 
year  1724;  but  did  not  receive  a  nini^ar  election  af- 
terwards. Benjamin  Pratt  and  Oxenbridge  Thacher 
were  also  members  of  the  General  Court  from  Bos- 
ton ;  and  after  them,  James  Otis,  Jr.  and  John  Ad- 
ams, before  the  Revolution.  From  his  time,  legal 
learning  was  deemed  more  important  in  those  who 
engaged  in  the  profession  of  the  law ;  and  the  char- 
acter of  gentlemen  of  the  bar  improved.    In  the  gen- 


348 


JOHN    REED. 


eration  after  Mr.  Read, — say  1750  to  1775, — appear- 
ed Shirley,  Bollan,  R.  Dana,  Trowbridge,  B.  Pratt, 
O.  Thacher,  J.  Sewall,  R.  T.  Paine,  D.  Leonard, 
N.  P.  Sargent,  W.  Gushing,  P.  Winslow,  S.  Quincy, 
J.  Q,uincy,  Jr.,  J.  Adams,  D.  Sewall,  T.  Bradbury, 
J.  Bliss,  J.  Hawley,  C.  Strong,  R.  Gushing. 

REED,  Rev.  JOHN  D.  D.  was  a  native  of 
Bridgewater,  Titicut  Parish,  where  his  father  was 
the  minister  of  a  Gongregational  Ghurch.  Mr. 
Reed  had  his  public  education  in  Yale  Gollege, 
and  settled  in  the  ministry  in  the  west  parish 
of  Bridgewater.  He  continued  his  connection  with 
that  people  as  their  pastor,  until  he  was  far  ad- 
vanced in  years.  He  was  above  eighty,  at  the  time 
of  his  decease,  in  1829.  He  represented  the  county 
of  Plymouth,  in  the  Gongress  of  the  United  States, 
several  years  after  he  was  sixty.  Dr.  Reed  pos- 
sr  %ed  superior  talents ;  and  excelled  most  of  his 
clerical  brethren,  as  a  metaphysician.      Few  i^ere 

S[ual  to  him  in  close  reasoning  and  sound  argument, 
e  made  just  distinctions,  and  was  clear  and  accu- 
rate in  his  language,  both  in  his  writing  and  conver- 
sation. In  h'^s  day,  the  question  of  the  moral  free- 
dom of  man  was  often  the  subject  of  discussion : 
and  the  peculiar  doctrines  <  f  Galvinism  were  also 
frequently  debated.  In  all  these.  Dr.  Reed  was  able 
and  masterly ;  few  were  able  to  compete  with  him 
successfully.  Rev.  Mr.  Niles  was  generally  his  an- 
togonist  in  these  discussions.  He  was  an  able  man, 
and  a  subtile  reasoner.  But  neither  could  convince 
the  other  of  his  alleged  errors  On  these  specu- 
lative points.  Dr.  Reed  was  an  advocate  for  the 
moral  power  of  man,  so  far  as  to  make  him  account- 
able for  the  exercises  of  his  will,  and  not  another. 
He  was  a  practical,  though  an  argumentative 
preacher,  and  sought  to  improve  his  hearers,  both  in 
knowledge  and  virtue. 


PAUL   REVERB. 


349 


»peaT- 
Pratt, 
tnard, 
aincy, 
Ibury, 

ive   of 
jr  was 

Mr. 
!ollegc, 
parish 
n  with 
far  ad- 
[le  time 
county 
States, 
jedpos- 
tof  his 
w  "^ere 
rument. 
id  accu- 
conver- 
ral  free- 
sussion : 
ere  also 
v&s  able 
rith  him 
r  his  an- 
)le  man, 
convince 

specu- 
for  the 
account- 
another, 
lentative 
I,  both  in 


REVERE,  Colonel  PAUL  was  a  citizen  of  Bos- 
Con,  and  an  ingenious  mechanic.    He  was  much  re- 
spected by  his  fellow  citizens,  both  for  his  integrity 
and  his  social  qualities  as  a  companion.     When  ar- 
bitrary measures  of  the  British  ministry  towards 
Massachusetts  were  adopted,  in  1765,  and  pursued 
until  they  provoked  resistance  and  revolution,  Mr. 
Revere  was  found   amcng  the  most    ardent    and 
patriotie.    Several  of  the  mechanics  in  Boston  took 
an  active  part  in  the  dispute  before  the  war  com- 
menced, as  they  did  in  the  field  after  it  began.     For 
some  time  before  that  event,  in  1775,  there  was  a 
club  of  the  patriotic  citizens,  which  frequently  met 
for  the  purpose  of  learning  the  movements  of  the  to- 
nes, and  for  deliberating  on  the  most  suitable  means 
of  defence  or  of  resistance.     Petitions  and  remon- 
strances were  the  only  weapons  used  either  by  them 
or  by  the  members  of  the  legislature,  who  often  pub- 
licly discussed  the  subject.     Colonel  Revere  was  one 
of  this  club ;  Ik.  Joseph  Warren,  Samuel  Adams, 
John  Hancock,  and  other  men  of  education,  often 
met  with  them.     Revere  was  ready  to  execute  any 
plans  which  Dr.  Warren  and  others  might  advise  or 
propose.    He  gave  Warren  information  on  the  even- 
ing of  the  18th  of  April,  1775,  that  some  of  the  Brit- 
ish troopSj  then  stationed  in  Boston,  were  probably 
preparing  for  an  expedition  into  the  country.     It 
was  soon  found  that  a  detachment  was  in  motion  to 
cross  Charles  river,  to  Cambridge  or  Charlestown  ; 
and  it  was  supposed  the  object  was  to  destroy  mili- 
tary stores,  collected  at  Concord  by  order  of  the  pro- 
vincial Congress  of  Massachusetts,  then  or  a  few 
days  before,  sitting  in  that  town— or  to  seize  on  the 
persons  of  Samuel  Adams  and  John  Hancock,  who 
were  particularly  obnoxious  to  the  British  ministry 
for  their  open  and  decided  opposition  to  the  policy  of 
the  administration  in  Er gland,  and  who  were  then 
known  to  be  at  Lexington,  at  the  house  of  Rev.  Mr. 
30 


350 


PAUL    SEVERE. 


M 


!  I 


Clark.  Dr.  Warren  advised  Revere  to  hasten  to 
Lexington  and  give  the  alarm,  and  to  proceed  to 
Concord  with  information  of  the  plan,  so  that  the 
military  stores  might  be  removed,  or  otherwise  se- 
cured. The  advice  was  promptly  and  faithfully  fol- 
lowed, as  readily  as  if  it  had  been  an  order  from  the 
highest  legal  authority.  These  eminent  patriots 
were  seasonably  notified,  and  retired  from  Mr. 
Clark's,  whose  house  was  near  the  public  road. 
This  was  but  a  few  moments  before  the  British 
troops  reached  the  common  in  Lexington,  near  the 
house  of  Mr.  Clark,  on  their  way  to  Concord.  They 
here  halted,  after  having  fired  on  a  few  of  the  militia 
just  assembled  from  the  neighborhood,  on  the  report 
of  the  expedition  from  Boston — but  who  offered  no 
resistance,  nor  proposed  to  make  any.  Meantime, 
Revere  proceeded  on  the  road  towards  Concord,  to  ful- 
fil the  other  part  of  his  instructions.  But  he  was  soon 
met  by  British  officers,  and  placed  under  the  keep- 
ing of  armed  men,  not  however  till  he  found  means 
of  forwarding  intelligence  to  Concord  of  the  approach 
of  British  troops,  and  their  intended  purpose.  In 
the  course  of  the  day,  Mr.  Revere  was  released,  or 
found  means  of  escape,  as  the  British  had  their 
hands  full,  and  in  the  latter  part  of  the  day  were 
chiefly  concerned  to  get  back  into  Boston,  with  as 
little  injury  or  delay  as  possible.  In  June  1776,  Mr. 
Revere  was  employed  to  engrave  four  copper-plates 
for  colony  notes,  at  £6  each,  and  to  print  fourteen 
thousand  five  himdred  and  sixty  impressions  at  £3, 
(os.  8  a  thousand ;  and  July  8th,  to  impress  eighteen 
hundred  and  seventy-four  sheets,  at  65.  a  hundred. 
Colonel  Revere  continued  faithful  to  the  cause,  and 
received  a  commission  as  Major,  and  then  as  Colonel, 
in  the  army  raised  for  the  defence  of  the  country. 
He  was  then  a  young  man  ;  and  lived  long  after  the 
war  of  the  Revolution  was  over — highly  respected  by 
his  fellow  citizens,  and  a  friend  and  supporter  of  law 


JOHN  RETNER. 


351 


•and  order,  as  well  as  an  advocate  for  constitutional 
liberty. 

REYNER,  Rev.  JOHN  who  perhaps  may  with 
propriety  be  considered  the  first  settled  minister  in 
Plymouth,  came  into  the  country  in  1636,  and  was 
immediately  called  to  the  pastoral  office  in  that  place. 
They  .had,  indeed,  several  preachers  before  him,  for 
short  periods ;  but  who  were  not  chosen  by  the  church 
to  be  the  permanent  pastor  and  teacher.  Elder 
Brewster  conducted  the  public  religious  services  when 
there  was,  no  person  with  them  of  the  clerical  profes- 
sion. A  Mr.  Rogers  officiated  some  time ;  but  be- 
came partially  deranged,  and  was  not  continued. — 
Mr.  Smith  was  with  them  in  1630  and  1631,  but 
proved  to  be  "of  very  inferior  gifts,"  in  the  estimation 
of  those  who  had  been  taught  by  so  able  a  man  as 
Robinson :  and  he  also  discontinued  the  pastoral  of- 
fice in  that  church.  Roger  Williams  was  with  them 
as  a  religious  teacher  two  or  three  years,  in  1632  and 
1634.  He  was  allowed  to  possess  "  bright  accom- 
plishments, but  of  unstable  judgment ;  and  who  be- 
gan to  vent  some  offensive  errors ; "  and  was  there- 
fore permitted  or  desired  to  leave  them.  Lyford,  who 
was  sent  over  to  them  in  1624,  by  some  enemies  of 
the  Pilgrims,  cannot  be  justly  said'  to  be  the  minister 
of  the  church :  and  he  was  soon  ordered  to  leave  the 
colony,  with  severe  rebuke  and  censure,  both  as  a 
minister  and  a  man.  He  was  proved  to  be  a  very 
immoral  character;  as  well  as  an  enemy  to  the  church 
and  government  of  Plymouth.  And  yet  some  writers 
are  so  ignorant,  or  so  prejudiced,  as  to  state  that 
Lyford  was  not  permitted  to  remain,  merely  because 
he  was  favorable  to  the  Church  of  England  !  Rev. 
C.  Chauncy,  afterward  President  of  Harvard  College, 
preached  at  Plymouth  some  time,  on  his  first  coming 
into  the  country,  as  an  assistant  to  Mr.  Reyner.  And 
so  also  did  Rev.  John  Norton,  who  came  over  by  re- 


352 


JOHN  BETN£R. 


■'1 

n! 


'A 


;!; 


quest  of  Go.  Winslow;  but  he  remained  in  Ply- 
mouth only  a  few  months,  when  he  removed  to  Ips- 
wich; and  was  ihere  the  able  and  faithful  pastor 
several  years.  Afterwards,  he  removed  to  Boston, 
on  the  death  of  Mr.  Cotton,  and  was  assistant  to  Mr. 
Wilson.  It  is  supposed  that  Mr.  Reyner  was  a  brother- 
in-law  of  Governor  Bradford ;  but  ithis  is  uncer- 
tain. Yet  he  was  truly  a  christian  brother.  He  is 
described  as  "an  able  and  godly  man ;  of  a  meek 
and  humble  spirit,  sound  in  the  truth,  and  everyway 
unreprovable  in  his  life  and  conversation ;  "  and  the 
Plymouth  people  "enjoyed  his  labors  several  years, 
with  much  peace  and  comfort."  In  1664,  Mr.  Rey- 
ner left  Plymouth,  and  went  to  Dover,  in  New  Hamp- 
shire, an  early  settlement,  where  he  was  the  pastor 
and  teacher  till  his  death,  in  1669.  From  the  invita- 
tion given  by  the  Salem  people,  in  1629,  to  the  puri- 
tans at  Plymouth,  to  join  in  the  formation  of  a  church, 
and  the  separation  of  their  ministers  to  office ;  from 
the  evident  religious  intercourse  of  Chauncy  and 
Norton,  with  the  Plymouth  church — and  from  a  sim- 
ilar union  in  religious  worship  and  service,  of  Rev. 
Mr.  Wilson  and  Gov.  Winthrop,  in  16.31 ;  it  fully  ap- 
pears, that  the  churches  of  Plymouth,  of  Salem,  and 
of  Boston,  agreed  in  their  sentiments  on  church  gov- 
ernment and  discipline,  and  the  forms  of  worship. 
And  this  is  also  declared  by  Josiah  Cotton,  son  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Cotton,  and  grandson  of  Mr.  Cotton  of  Bos- 
ton ;  who  says,  "  The  platform  of  the  church  discip- 
line and  government  agreed  upon  by  the  synod  at 
Cambridge,  in  1648,  was  entirely  agreeable  to  the 
sentiments  of  the  Plymouth  church,  and  according 
to  the  model  before  laid  down  by  their  pastor,  Mr. 
Robinson.  Some  of  the  most  famous  in  that  synod 
acknowledged  the  light  they  derived  from  the  Ply- 
mouth church ;  which,  being  the  first,  became  a  pat- 
tern by  which  the  rest  were  modelled ;  whose  mem- 
bers, being  but  lately  withdrawn  from  the  church  of 


W.    M<    RICHABD80N — E.    RIPLEY. 


353 


England,  could  not  be  supposed  to  be  so  well  studied 
in  the  controversy  as  the  other ;  whicli  was  of  longer 
standing,  and  had  borne  the  burden  and  heat  of  the 
day."  Mr.  Cotton  also  observes,  "  the  Plymouth 
church  sent  messengers  (as  requested)  to  Salem,  in 
1629,  to  give  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  to  the  church 
there;  which  was  the  sccoma?  church  in  the  country." 
Plymouth  church  had  no  delegation  in  the  ^ynod  of 
1648.  Were  they  prevented  sending  by  any  suspi- 
cion, that  power  might  be  given  to  the  clergy,  incon- 
sistent with  the  independence  of  the  churches  ! 

RICHARDSON,  Hon.  WILLIAM  MERCHANT 
L  L.  D.  received  his  public  education  in  Harvard 
College,  and  was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1797. 
On  leaving  the  University  he  prepared  for  the  profes- 
sion of  the  law  ;  and  after  a  few  years  of  practice,  re- 
ceived the  appointment  of  Chief  Justice  of  the 
Supreme  Court  in  New  Hampshire.  He  died  in 
1838,  at  the  age  of  fifty-nine,  usually  estimated  as 
the  meridian  of  life.  He  was  ranked  among  the 
learned  jurists  of  his  time  ;  and  esteemed  as  a  sound 
lawyer,  and  an  able  and  upright  judge.  While  a 
pleader  at  the  bar,  he  was  powerful  and  eloquent ; 
uniting  a  good  knowledge  of  legal  principles  and  a 
happy  elocution,  which  rendered  him  very  popular, 
and  procured  him  many  clients.  He  represented 
Middlesex  District,  Massachusetts,  in  Congress  in 
1812 ;  and  after  this  period  removed  to  the  State  of 
New  Hampshire.  He  began  the  practice  of  law  in 
the  county  of  Middlesex. 

RIPLEY,  Eev.  EZRA  D.  D.,  was  born  at  Pom^ 
fret,  in  the  State  of  Connecticut ;  and  had  his  public 
education  in  Harvard  College,  with  the  class  of  1776, 
but  at  an  age  a  little  more  advanced  than  most  of 
the  graduates.  He  officiated  a  short  time  as  a  chap- 
lain in  the  army,  and  then  settled  iu  the  christian 
30* 


354 


JOHN   ROBINSON.      .!:« 


ministry  in  Concord,  Masisachusetts,  as  sk?.cc8i9SO£  of 
JRev.  William  Emerson,  who  died  when  a  i^.haplain 
to  the  troops  belonging  to  that  State,  in  17  V6.  Dr. 
Ripley  had  the  character  of  a  learned  theologian ; 
and  was  a  popular  preacher.  He  always  spoke  feel- 
ingly from  the  pulpit,  o!i  the  importaxit  subject  of  reli- 
gion !  his  discourses  were  at  once  evangelical  and 
practical.  He  ranked  among  the  Unitarian,  or  liber 
al  ckrgy  :  and  was  one  of  the  fathers  of  that  pecu^ 
liar  faith.  His  publications  were  chiefly  sermons  at 
ordinaii'>nfi,  and  at  the  funeral  of  some  of  his  breth- 
ren who  had  been  in  the  ministry.  He  survived  to 
a  great  age,  and  had  the  perfect  exercise  of  his  intel- 
lectual powers  until  the  close  of  life.  Though  he 
had  a  colleague  for  several  years,  he  often  preached 
to  his  people  till  a  few  months  before  his  death.  He 
died  in  1841,  at  the  age  of  ninety-two  years. 

ROBINSON,  Rev.  JOHN  was  the  minister  of 
Duxbury,  in  the  County  of  Plymouth,  from  1698  to 
1737.  He  was  a  native  of  Dorchester,  and  received 
his  public  education  in  Harvard  College,  with  the 
class  of  1695.  It  has  been  said  he  was  a  descend- 
ant of  Rev.  John  Robinson,  pastor  of  the  pilgrim 
Church  at  Ley  den.  But  there  is  no  sufficient  proof 
of  it ;  nor  is  it  probable.  The  widow  and  a  son  of 
the  pastor  of  the  Leyden  Church,  came  to  Plymouth 
after  his  death  ;  and  settled  at  Barnstable  with  Rev. 
Mr.  Lothrop,  in  1639.  That  son  was  Isaac,  and  his 
descendants  lived  in  Barnstable  county.  There 
were  two  men  by  name  of  Robinson,  who  were 
freemen  of  Dorchester,  in  1640  and  1641 ;  but  it  is 
not  probable  they  were  sons  of  the  Leyden  pastor  of 
that  name.  In  tlie  earlv  records  of  Plymouth,  there 
is  no  account  of  any  other  son  than  Isaac.  There 
is  a  tradition  that  Isaac  had  a  brother,  who  went  to 
Cape  Ann,  or  some  part  of  Essex  county,  soon  after 
the  widow  and  family  arrived,  in  1634.    But  thfi 


'i  • 


EZEKIEL   BOOEKS. 


355 


two  Robinsons  at  Dorchester,  in  1640,  could  hardly 
be  his  sons,  and  grandsons  of  the  pastor.  For  they 
must  be  abo\e  twenty-one  to  be  admitted  freemen. 
Mr.  Robinson  was  minister  in  Duxbury  about  thirty- 
eight  years,  when  he  left  that  place,  and  removed  to 
Lebanon,  in  Connecticut ;  and  there  resided  till  his 
decease.  The  elder  Governor  Trumbull,  of  Con- 
necticut, married  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Robinson ;  and 
this,  no  doubt,  induced  him  to  remove  to  that  town. 
The  present  learned  Dr.  Robinson  is  a  great-grand- 
son of  the  Duxbury  minister.  Rev.  Mr.  Robinson 
was  a  good  scholar,  and  an  able  logician.  He  was 
a  powerful  preacher.  His  sermons  were  argutoent- 
ative  and  sententious.  The  writer  has  seen  and 
read  many  of  them  in  manuscript.  But  Mr.  Rob- 
inson had  naturally  very  strong  feelings, — he  was 
ardent  and  quick;  and  did  not  ai^^^ays  govern  his 
temper  as  he  ought.  He  had  disputes  with  his 
people,  chiefly  on  account  of  their  backwardness  in 
paying  his  salary.  In  all  other  respects  he  was  a 
faithful  pastorj  and  a  good  man.  The  people  no 
doubt  merited  some  rebuke  for  their  remissness; 
and  he  was  bound  to  provide  for  his  family. 

ROGERS,  Rev.  EZEKIEL  came  to  Massachu- 
setts in  1637,  and  was  minister  of  the  then  recently 
formed  church  and  society  at  Rowley,  in  the  coun- 
ty of  Essex ;  some  of  them  having  been  members  of 
his  congregation  in  England.  He  had  the  character 
of  a  learned  and  judicious  divine,  and  of  a  faithful 
pastor.  He  descended  from  the  celebrated  martyr. 
Rev.  John  Rogers,  who  suffered  for  nonconformity  to 
papal  forms  in  the  time  of  Queen  Mary,  1550.  Na- 
thaniel Rogers,  some  time  pastor  of  the  church  in 
Ipswich,  was  his  brother ;  and  he  also  was  a  learned 
and  able  theologian.  From  these  two  pious  men 
have  descended  all  who  bear  that  honorable  name 
in  Massachusetts,  and  neighboring  States;    eight  or 


356 


THOMAS   BU8SELL. 


nine  of  whom  were  clergymen.  Both  Nathaniel  and 
Ezekiel  suffered  much  in  England  for  their  noncon- 
formity,  before  they  came  to  America. 

RUSSELL,  Hon.  THOMAS  a  native  of  Charles- 
town,  but  a  citizen  of  Boston  after  he  arrived  at 
manhood,  was  reputed  the  greatest  merchant  of  his 
time,  in  the  State.  His  most  active  and  prosperous 
days  were  from  1783  to  1798,  the  time  of  his  de- 
cease. His  business  was  more  extensive  than  that 
of  any  one  man ;  and  he  was  remarkably  successful 
in  his  mercantile  enterprizes.  He  was  industrious, 
methodical,  and  honorable  in  his  dealings.  He  gen- 
erally attended  in  person  to  the  business  in  which  he 
was  engaged ;  and  always  perfectly  understood  the 
true  state  of  his  affairs.  He  visited  Europe  when  a 
young  man,  which  was  probably  an  advantage  to 
him  afterwards  in  his  mercantile  pursuits.  He  had 
the  full  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens,  and  was 
elected  to  many  important  trusts :  to  a  seat  in  the 
House  of  Representatives,  of  the  Senate,  and  of  the 
Supreme  Executive  Council.  He  belonged  to  sev- 
eral religious  and  benevolent  associations  ;  ind  was 
several  years  President  of  the  Society  for  Propa- 

§ating  the  Gospel  among  the  Indians,  and  others 
estitute  of  stated  means  of  religion.  He  also  con- 
tributed liberally  to  the  funds  of  the  society.  In  all 
his  dealings  with  others,  whether  merchants  or  me- 
chanics, he  was  fair  and  honest :  no  one  could  just- 
ly accuse  him  of  acts  of  oppression  against  the  poor 
or  the  ignorant. 


■^■ 


r 

•im 


CHAPTER  XV. 


S 


SANGER  Rev.  ZEDEKIAH  D.  D.  was  a  native 
of  Sherburne,  Massachusetts,  and  received  his  public 
education  in  Harvard  College,  with  the  class  of 
1771,  the  largest  which  had  then  been  in  that  sem- 
inary. After  keeping  a  school  a  short  time,  he 
studied  theology;  and,  in  1776,  was  ordained  as 
pastor  of  the  church  in  Duxbury,  and  county  of  Ply- 
mouth. He  continued  there  only  a  few  years,  on 
account  of  a  complaint  in  his  eyes.  But,  the  disease 
being  in  some  measure  removed,  he  resumed  hi'i 
ministerial  labors,  and  was  settled  in  the  south 
parish  of  Bridgewater,  where  he  remained  until  his 
decease,  in  1820,  at  the  age  of  seventy.  Dr.  Sanger 
was  a  respectable  scholar,  and  was  one  of  the  original 
members  of  the  American  Academy  of  Arts  and 
Sciences.  He  was  happy  in  his  didactic  composi- 
tions ;  for  he  was  chaste  and  perspicuous ;  and  as  a 
preacher,  evangelical  and  popular  and  liberal.  He 
seldom  discussed  speculative  or  controversial  sub- 
jects in  the  pulpit.  His  object  was  to  state  the  great 
truths  of  revelation  clearly  and  fully,  to  present  the 
doctrines  of  grace  to  the  mind  and  heart,  and  excite 
men  to  inquiry  and  consideration  on  the  momentous 
subject  of  religion.  It  appeared  that  he  spoke  with 
sincerity,  and  felt  the  truth  and  importance  of  the 


358 


OURDON  SALTONSTALL. 


Statement  he  presented ;  and  the  hearers,  therefore, 
were  the  more  ready  to  give  careful  attention  to  his 
instructions.  In  his  pastoral  visits  he  was  affection- 
ate and  instructive.  His  manner  invited  the  free 
disclosure  of  the  mind  with  all  its  anxieties ;  and  he 
could  afford  the  consolation,  the  direction,  and  the 
admonitions  most  suitable  and  proper  for  every  case. 
To  the  youn^,  his  conversation  and  deportment 
were  remarkably  attractive. 

SALTONSTALL,  Hon.  GURDON  was  a  son  of 
Nathaniel,  after  named ;  and  had  his  public  educa- 
tion in  Harvard  College,  with  the  class  of  1684.  He 
chose  the  clerical  profession ;  and  was  ordained  over 
the  congregational  church  and  society  in  New  Lon- 
don, in  169L  He  had  superior  talents,  and  was  a 
good  scholar.  In  his  person  and  manners,  he  was 
highly  dignified ;  and  a  very  eloquent  and  popular 
preacher.  At  the  age  of  forty  years,  he  was  consid- 
ered at  the  head  of  his  profession ;  and  on  the  death 
of  Fitz  John  Winthrop,  in  1707,  the  second  Governor 
of  Connecticut,  after  the  imion  of  New  Haven  and 
Hartford,  he  was  elected  chief  magistrate  of  that 
colony.  This  was  a  singular  instance;  for  there 
was  a  law  that  the  Governor  should  be  chosen  out 
of  the  board  of  magistrates;  but  it  was  repealed, 
that  the  people  might  vote  for  Mr.  Saltonstall.  The 
clergy,  also,  advised  him  to  take  the  office^  and  he 
was  well  qualified  for  it ;  for  at  that  period  the  clergy 
were,  at  least,  theoretic  politicians;  some  charged 
them  with  improperly  interfering  in  political  and 
civil  concerns.  He  continued  to  be  elected  Governor 
for  sixteen  years.  He  died  in  1724,  at  the  age  of 
fifty-nine  years.  Some  of  his  biographers  have 
represented  him  "  as  the  greatest  and  best  man  in 
New  England,"  in  his  day.  This  may  appear  to  be 
the  extravagant  language  of  mere  eulogy — ^but  there 
is  no  just  reason  to  doubt  its  entire  truth.  His  wife 
was  a  daughter  of  William  Whittingham,  a  descend- 


RICHARD  8ALT0NSTALL. 


359 


ereforc, 
I  to  his 
rection- 
he  free 
and  he 
Eind  the 
ry  case, 
^rtment 


I  son  of 
!  educa- 
14.  He 
led  over 
w  Lon- 
1  was  a 
he  was 
popular 
consid- 
ie  death 
ovemor 
ven  and 
of  that 

there 
>sen  out 
^pealed, 
The 
and  he 
eclergy 
charged 
sal  and 
overnor 

age  of 
s  have 
man  in 
ar  to  be 
lit  there 
lis  wife 
escend- 


ant  of  the  famous  Whittin^ham,  one  of  the  first 

fmritans,  in  1554.   She  was  ot  a  generous  spirit ;  and, 
ike  her  husband,  gave  much  for  public  pi   poses. 

SALTONSTALL,  Sir  RICHARD  came  to  Mas- 
sachusetts in  1630,  with  the  large  company  of  fifteen 
hundred ;  and  was  one  of  the  principal  men  of  that 
company.  He  was  a  non-conformist,  but  more 
moderate  and  temperate  in  his  opposition  to  the  es- 
tablished Episcopal  church  than  most  of  those  who 
first  emigrated  to  Massachusetts.  He  was  of  a  re- 
spectable family,  as  his  title  indicates ;  and  he  had 
a  good  estate.  He  was  one  of  the  original  patentees 
of  the  colonial  territory  ;  and  an  assistant  before  and 
after  the  removal  of  the  charter  to  Massachusetts. 
Soon  after  the  company  arrived  in  Boston  harbor, 
he  concluded  to  fix  his  abode  at  Watertown,  on  the 
banks  of  Charles  river,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Phillips  and 
others  accompanied  him.  He  brought  several  of  his 
family  }vith  him,  both  sons  and  daughters.  But  the 
privations  to  which  they  were  subjected  the  first 
winter,  were  so  severe,  that  the  daughters  prevailed 
with  their  father  to  return  to  England  in  the  spring 
of  1631.  Sir  Richard  lived  several  years  after  his 
return,  and  always  proved  to  be*  an  efficient  friend 
to  the<;olony.  Two  of  his  sons  remained  in  Massa- 
chusetts, and  he  and  his  descendants,  of  every  gener- 
ation, have  been  in  public  life,  well  educated  men, 
and  of  great  influence  in  society.  Sir  Richard  and 
several  of  his  descendants,  were  generous  friends  of 
Harvard  College — and  those  born  in  the  colony  were 
educated  in  that  seminary.  Richard  Saltonstall, 
son  of  Sir  Richard,  remained  in  Massachusetts 
the  greater  part  of  his  life ;  for,  when  some  early 
returned  to  England,  he  resolved  that  he  would  not 
leave  the  colony  so  long  as  the  christian  ordinances 
were  observed  agreeably  to  apostolic  direction  and 
example.    He  did,  however,  go  to  England  in  1672, 


m 


360 


NATRANIBL  SABOBNT. 


.1 


and  continued  there  several  years,  but  came  back  to 
Massachusetts,  and  was  chosen  an  assistant,  when 
above  seventy  ye^rs  of  age.  Ho  opposed  the  plan 
for  a  standing  council,  in  1643,  when  some  of  the 
clergy,  and  a  few  others,  who  probably  expected  to 
retam  political  power,  favored  such  a  measure.  Mr. 
Saltonstall  considered  it  a  dangerous  innovation. 
Some  proposed  to  censure  him  in  public,  for  his  op* 
position ;  but,  satisfied  both  of  his  honesty  and  in- 
fluence, they  refrained  from  any  condemnation  of 
him.  Nathaniel  Saltonstall,  who  had  his  education 
in  Harvard  College,  with  the  class  of  1659,  a  son  of 
Richard,  last  named,  settled  at  Haverhill.  He  was 
also  one  of  the  assistants,  and  a  firm  friend  of  the 
rights  and  hberties  of  the  people  in  the  time  of  Sir 
Edmund  Andros,  and  "that  creature"  Edward 
Randolph.  As  an  assistant,  he  was  a  member  of 
the  highest  Judicial  Court  in  the  colony ;  and  under 
the  province  or  second  charter,  of  1691,  he  had  a 
commission  as  a  justice  of  the  Superior  Court  of  Ju- 
dicature. It  is  believed  he  did  not  fully  consent  to 
die  prosecutions  and  condemnations  for  alleged 
witchcraft,  in  1692 — but  the  majority  of  the  justices, 
and  even  the  learned  William  Stoughton,  encour- 
aged by  Rev.  Cotton  Mather,  a  very  credulous  and 
superstitious  man,  though  of  great  learning,  gave 
juagment  against  the  unfortunate  snfiRsrers. 

SARGEANT,  Hon.  NATHANIEL  PEASLEE 
received  his  public  education  in  Harvard  College, 
where  he  was  graduated  in  1750.  He  engaged  in 
the  profession  of  the  law,  and  had  the  character  of 
an  able  and  honest  attorney.  He  may  justly  be 
ranked  among  the  patriots  of  1770  and  1775,  who 
disapproved  of  the  arbitrary  measures  of  the  British 
administration,  and  sought  to  preserve  the  rights 
and  liberties  of  the  people.  He  was  not  perhaps  so 
ardent  as  some  others ;  but  he  was  decided  ia  sup- 


WINTHIOP  tAIOBNT. 


Mt 


back  to 
It,  when 
the  plan 
le  of  the 
Mcted  to 
re.  Mr. 
lovation. 
r  his  op- 
'  and  in- 
mtion  of 
fdneation 

a  son  of 

He  was 
id  of  the 
oe  of  Sir 

Edward 
ember  of 
nd  under 
tie  had  a 
irt  of  Ju- 
onsent  to 
alleged 
)  justices, 
encour" 
ilous  and 


SASLEE 

College, 
^ged  in 
racter  of 
ustly  be 
r76,  who 
e  British 
le  rights 
rhaps  so 
in  sup- 


port of  civil  freedom,  and  could  always  be  depended 
upon,  as  a  prudent  and  efficient  supporter  of  the 
ancient  privileges  and  rights  of  the  colonies.  Mr. 
Sargeant  was  a  delegate  from  the  town  of  Haverhill, 
where  he  then  practised  law,  to  (he  second  Pro- 
vincial Congress,  which  met  at  Cambridge,  in  Feb- 
ruary 1776;  and  in -1776  was  a  member  of  the 
House  of  Representatives.  After  the  constitution  of 
Massachusetts  was  adopted,  in  1780,  he  had  a  seat 
on  the  bench  of  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court ;  and 
on  the  appointment  of  William  Cushing,  to  be  a 
Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States, 
Mr.  Sargeant  was  made  Chief  Justice.  He  lived 
but  a  few  years  after,  and  died  in  1792.  He  was  a 
son  of  Rev.  Christopher  Sargeant,  of  Methuen,  in  the 
County  of  Essex.     .  t 

*"  SAROENT,  Hon.  WINTHROP  was  a  native 
of  Gloucester,  Massachusetts,  and  received  his  edu- 
cation in  Harvard  College,  with  the  class  of  1771. 
He  entered  the  American  army  at  an  early  age,  and 
continued  till  the  peace,  in  1783.  He  had  the  repu- 
tation of  an  intelligent  and  brave  officer ;  having 
the  rank  of  Major  the  latter  part  of  the  war.  He 
had  a  literary  taste,  and  was  a  member  of  the 
American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  in  Massa- 
chusetts, and  of  the  American  Philosophical  Society, 
in  Pennsylvania.  President  Washington  appointed 
him  Governor  of  the  territory  of  Mississippi,  before 
it  became  a  separate  State ;  but  President  Jefferson 
removed  him  in  1801,  to  furnish  an  office  for  a 
political  friend.  Governor  Sargent  possessed  talents 
of  a  superior  order,  and  devoted  much  time  to  liter- 
ary pursuits.  And  his  manners  were  at  once 
polished  and  dignified.  In  this  respect  he  may  just- 
ly be  compared  to  Generals  Lincoln,  Knox,  and 
Cobb.  v» 

31  X 


!    i 
I    ! 


sed 


M.  SAWTBft.— A.  SOAMiriLL. 


SAWYER,  MICAIJAH  M.  D.  A.  A.  a  wai  « 

eitken  of  Newburyport,  and  received  his  publt 
education  in  Harvard  College,  with  the  class  of 
1756.  Dr.  Sawyer  ranked  among  the  most  eminent 
physicians  of  his  time.  He  laid  the  fcMindation  for 
professional  distinction,  by  the  study  of  Natural 
Philosophy,  and  Physiology.  He  understood  the 
theories  and  systems  of  the  most  celebrated  phy- 
sicians of  former  times,  who  had  given  their  views 
to  the  world.  But  he  was  not  merely  a  learned 
theorist;  he  had  good  judgihent;  and  depended 
much  on  his  own  observation  and  experience  in  the 
practice  of  the  professioUi  There  were  many  able 
physicians  in  the  country  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
last  century ;  and  yet  the  majority  were  not  proper-, 
ly  educated,  and  it  v/ould  have  been  no  libel  to  say, 
that  they  were  quacks.  Theories  in  medicine,  as 
well  as  in  other  professions  and  departments,  have, 
in  some  measure,  changed  within  seventy  years ; 
and  most  of  those  who  profess  the  healing  art  are 
better  educated  in  thus  country,  than  formerly ;  but 
there  were  some  successful  practitioners  tlien,  as 
well  as  now ;  and  the  most  learned  of  the  profession 
have  reason  to  say,  that  there  is  still  much  unknown 
as  to  the  nature  of  diseases,  and  the  means  of  an 
effectual  and  certain  remedy. 

SCAMMBLL,  Colonbl  ALEXANDER  was  bom 
in  that  part  of  Mendon  now  Mil  ford,  in  Massachu- 
setts ;  and  received  his  public  education  in  Harvard 
College,  where  he  was  graduated  in  the  year  1769. 
He  passed  some  time  in  teaching  youth  at  Plymouth 
•—but  when  the  war  of  the  Revolution  began,  he  laid 
aside  the  scholar's  gown,  and  took  the  sword,  in  de* 
fence  of  civil  liberty.  His  principle  was  in  unison 
with  the  motto  to  the  arms  of  the  State,  **ense  petit 
placidam  quietem  sub  libertate."     He  did  not  engage 


THBOOOftE  tSMIWICK. 


363 


wai  ft 

publi 
clam  of 
eminent 
Btiofi  for 
Nktnral 
kood  the 
ted  phy- 
ir  views 
,  learned 
iepended 
;e  in  the 
any  able 
rt  of  the 
(t  proper- 
el  to  say, 
dicine,  as 
Its,  have, 
ty  years; 
2  art  are 
erly;  but 
I  then,  as 
profession 
unknown 
tins  of  an 

i 

was  bom 
lassachu- 
Harvard 
ear  1769. 
Plymouth 
in,  he  laid 
>rd,  in  de^ 
in  unison 
ense  petit 
lot  engage 


i 


in  the  conteat  for  a  living,  nor  from  any  particolar 
fiMidneas  for  a  military  life ;  but  to  assist  in  establish- 
ing the  political  rights  of  the  peo(de  in  the  Colonies. 
He.liad  talents  which  would  have  adorned  any  of 
the  learned  professions,  and  moral  traits  of  character 
to  attract  the  regard  and  esteem  of  his  fellow  men. 
But  he  had  also  scnoie  qualities  necessary  in  the  hero. 
He  was  of  a  brave  and  intrepid  spirit,  and  prompt 
And  enterprising  in  action.  He  was  esteemed  for 
these  qualities  by  his  fellow  officers,  and  much  en- 
deared to  ihem  by  generous  and  honorable  conduct 
Colonel  Scammell  commanded  a  regiment  in  the  New 
Hampshire  line  of  the  continental  army,  in  the  early 
period  of  the  war ;  and  was  afterwards  some  time 
Adjutant  General.  In  the  siege  of  Yorktown,  Vir- 
ginia, where  Lord  CornwalUs,  the  British  coraman^ 
der  was  stationed,  bis  duty  called  him  to  peculiar 
exposure ;  and  in  one  of  the  sallies  of  the  besieged 
he  was  slain.  Prc^ably  the  death  of  no  officer  dur- 
ing the  war,  except  that  of  General  Joseph  Warren, 
oa  Bunker  Hill,  was  more  lamented  than  that  of 
Colonel  Scammell. 

'  SEDGWICK,  Hon.  THEODORE  L  L.D.  was  ed. 
ucated  in  Yale  College,  and  received  h^s  first  degree 
in  1765.  He  engaged  in  the  profession  of  the  law  in 
the  county  of  Berkshire,  with  the  reputation  of  an  able 
attorney  and  advocate.  When  the  dispute  with  the 
British  ministry,  as  to  the  right  of  Parliament  to  rule 
and  legislate  for  the  people  in  the  colonies  in  all 
cases,  was  approaching  a  crisis,  the  friends  of  liber- 
ty were  anxious  to  adopt  measures  for  security.  Mr. 
Sedgwick  was  early  found  among  them.  In  July  1774, 
there  was  a  convention  in  the  county  of  Berkshire, 
to  consult  "  what  was  necessary  and  prudent  to  be 
done  by  the  citizens,"  Mr.  Sedgwick  was  chosen  the 
Secretary  of  the  meeting.  In  1778,  he  was  a  Eep- 
reaentative  iu  the  General  Court :   and  1781,  the 


ll 

■     1 

il 


! 


364 


WILLI..M  SIVBR.    t 


Speaker.  He  went  to  Congress  in  1792,  and  was 
sometime  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives ; 
and  afterwards  one  of  the  Senators  of  the  United 
States  for  Massachusetts.  In  1802,  Mr.  Sedgwick 
was  appointed  a  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Judicr.al. 
Court,  and  held  a  seat  on  the  bench  till  his  death,  in 
1614,  at  the  age  of  seventy.  Judge  Sedgwick  had  a 
high  character,  both  for  talents  and  probity.  He 
was  prompt  and  dignified  as  a  Judge  and  as  presiding 
officer  of  the  House  of  Representatives ;  and  of  bland 
and  courteous  manners  towards  all  those  with  whom 
he  associated, 

SEVER,  Hon.  WILLIAM  was  an  inhabitant  of 
Kingston,  and  a  son  of  Nicholas  Sever,  some  time 
an  instructor  and  fellow  of  Harvard  College.  He 
received  his  public  education  in  Harvard  College, 
with  the  class  of  1745.  He  was  a  companion  of  lit- 
erary men,  and  always  sought  to  pipmote  the  cause 
of  good  learning  in  the  community.  Kingston  is  a 
small  town ;  and  was  formerly  a  part  of  Plymouth  : 
but  owing  to  his  influence,  in  a  great  measure,  a 
grammar  school  was  usually  supported  in  the  place, 
and  kept  by  an  alumnus  of  Harvard  College.  He 
took  an  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  people,  and 
made  annual  visits  to  almost  every  family  in  the 
town,  as  is  usual  for  the  pastor  of  the  society  to  do. 
In  his  deportment,  he  was  very  courteous  and  digni- 
fied ;  and  at  the  present  day,  he  might  be  accused  of 
formality.  It  was  often  said,  that  he  resembled 
Washington,  in  his  peraon,  features  and  manners. 
He  had  the  most  exalted  opinion  of  tho  patriotism 
and  wisdom  of  that  "  wonderful  man ;"  and  he  con- 
sidered it  a  great  honor,  as  an  Elector,  to  cast  his 
vote  on  two  occasions,  when  he  was  a  candidate  for 
the  Presidency.  At  both  the  elections,  Mr.  Sever 
was  chosen  to  preside  over  the  meeting.  He  had  a 
seat  at  the  Council  Board  during  the  administration 


' 


md  was 
itatives : 


Unit 
edgwick 
Judic:a) 
leath, in 
ck  had  a 
ity.  He 
»Tesidin| 
of  Mand 
th  whom 


ibitant  of 
me  time 
sge.     He 
College, 
ion  of  lit- 
he cause 
ton  is  a 
y mouth  : 
sasure,  a 
he  place, 
»ge.     He 
»ple,  and 
y  in  the 
ty  to  do. 
nddigni- 
ccused  of 
esembled 
manners, 
latriotism 
d  he  con- 
cast  his 
idate  for 
Ir.  Sever 
e  had  a 
aistration 


DAVU)  S^WALL. 


m 


of  Governor  Hutchinson.  He  acted  with  Bowdoia, 
Oti^,  Hawley,  the  two  Adamses,  and  others,  in  1770- 
1775,  in  remonstrating  against  the  measures  of  the 
British  ministry  at  that  memorable  period.  When 
Governor  Gage  was  chief  magistrate  of  the  Province 
in  1774  and  1775,  he  was  a  subject  of  his  frowns, 
as  well  as  the  others,  his  compatriots,  above  named. 
He  was  a  delegate  to  the  Provincial  Congress  in  Mas- 
sachusetts, May  1775 — and  in  July  of  the  same  year 
had  a  seat  at  the  Council  Board,  then  chosen  instead 
of  tlie  Counsellors  appointed  by  the  King,  in  deroga- 
tion of  the  right  of  the  General  Assembly,  as  expressly 
provided  by  the  charter.  Mr.  Sever  was  several 
years,  successively,  a  member  of  Uie  Council;  and 
his  opinions  and  votes  were  always  indicative  of  his 
{M-actical  wisdom,  and  his  regard  for  constitutional 
principles.  He  was  not  easily  excit&d ;  and  therefore 
appeared  less  ardent  than  some  others :  but  his  char- 
acter was  that  of  a  firm  and  discreet  friend  of  politi- 
cal liberty.  He  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty  i'ears,  and 
his  memory  has  been  cherished  with  high  respect. 

SEWALL,  Hon.  DAVID  L  L.  D.  was  one  of  a 
lai^e  family  with  that  name ;  and  it  has  been  respect- 
able in  all  its  branches,  from  the  ep.Lty  settlement  of 
Massachusetts.  He  was  a  native  o(  York,  in  Maine, 
and  had  his  public  education  in  Harvard  College, 
with  the  class  of  1755.  He  engaged  in  the  profea- 
sion  of  the  law,  and  was  in  the  practice,  so.metime 
in  the  county  of  York.  He  took  part  with  the  v  'ligs 
and  patriots  of  1770-75,  in  opposition  to  the  o^/pieK- 
sive  measures  of  the  parent  government,  at  an  early 
period  of  the  controversy.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
House  of  Representatives,  from  the  town  of  York, 
in  ,1776 — and  in  1777,  was  appointed  a  justice  of  the 
Superior  Court  of  Judic^ure ;  and  in  178U,  had  a 
commission  for  a  justice  of  the  Supreme  Judicial 
Court,  estaUished  by  the  constitution  of  Massachu- 
31* 


■ 


9o6 


JONATHAN  8SWALL— JOSEPH  SEW  ALL. 


•etts,  in  1780.  In  1789,  President  Washington  ap- 
pointed him  judge  of  the  District  Court  of  the  Uni- 
ted  States  for  the  District  of  Maine.  He  held  that 
office  till  he  was  above  the  age  of  eighty  years, 
when  he  resigned.  He  had  the  character  of  a 
learned  and  upright  judge ;  and  was  an  exemplary 
Christian.  He  possessed  solid  and  useful,  but  not 
very  brilliant  talents ;  and  was  universally  esteemed 
for  his  uniform  moral  and  religious  deportment. 

SEWALL,  Hon.  JONATHAN  received  his  edu- 
cation in  Harvard  College,  and  was  graduated  in 
1748.  He  was  classed  with  the  ablest  barristers  in 
Massachusetts ;  and  was  the  king's  attorney  in  the 
province,  from  1767  to  1774.  He  was  fiCn  appoint- 
ed judge  of  the  Vice-Admiralty  Court,  for  the 
province  of  Nova  Scotia.  President  Adams,  the 
dder,  read  law  in  the  office  of  Mr.  Sewall,  who  often 
spoke  of  the  abilities  and  learning  of  his  pupil.  In 
1774,  Mr.  Sewall  was  engaged  with  Mr.  Adams,  in 
a  discussion,  pwhlished  in  the  newspapers  of  that 
time,  relating  to  the  claims  of  the  British  parliament 
and  ministry,  for  governing  the  colonies ;  in  which 
he  maintained  his  cause  with  great  ingenuity.  Mr. 
Sewall  was  anxious  that  his  young  friend  should  be 
on  the  side  ol  the  parent  government ;  as.  in  his 
opinion,  that  was  the  safest  course.  But  Mr.  Adams 
preferred  the  cause  of  right,  of  liberty,  and  of  his 
country — and  still  received  more  worldly  honor  and 
applause  than  hzd  he  follow^  the  advice  of  his  le- 
gal, political  ad  riser. 

SEWALL,  Rev  I>r.  JOSEPH  a  son  of  Judge 
Samuel  Sewall,  received  his  education  m  Harvard 
College,  and  was  graduated  in  17  )7.  H*-  was  the 
pastor  of  the  Old  8outh  chtirch,  in  Boston  upwards 
of  fifty  years  Most  of  the  time,  there  was  a  secofid 
minister  of  the  same  tehmovm  society    Rcr  Thomas 


JAMUKL  8BWALL. 


367 


igton  ap- 
the  Uni" 
held  that 
ty  years, 
tcr  of  a 
icemplary 
1,  but  not 
esteemed 
nent. 

his  edn- 
luated  in 
rristere  in 
ley  in  the 
1  appoint- 
,   for    the 
lams,    the 
who  often 
pupil.     In 
A.dams,  in 
■s  of  that 
>ariiament 
in  which 
lity.     Mr. 
should  be 
as.  in  his 
Ir.  Adams 
nd  of  his 
honor  and 
of  his  Ic- 


of  Judge 
Harvard 

♦:  was  the 
apwa*ds 

8  a  sttcoiid 
Thoinaa 


Prince,  forty  yearr^,  and  Rev.  Alex.  Curaings,  two 
years.  Dr.  S€\^a11  was  a  good  scholar,  and  was 
chosen  President  of  Harvard  College,  but  declined  the 
pointment.  In  his  ministerial  character  he  was 
zealous  and  faithful.  Several  of  his  discourses  were 
published,  and  are  honorable  to  his  talents  and  his 
jnety.  He  laid  very  great  stress  on  the  orthodox 
system  of  his  day — and  could  hardly  believe  any 
one  a  sincere  Christian  who  did  not  embrace  it. 
When  Dr.  Mayhew  was  on  his  deathbed,  Dr.  Sew- 
all  visited  him,  with  a  view  to  learn  if  he  felt  strong 
in  the  faith  he  professed.  On  his  return,  he  was 
asked  if  Dr.  Mayhew  believed  in  the  proper  Deity 
of  Christ,  when  he  replied,  "  He  loves  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  and  receives  him  as  his  Saviour."  A 
good  and  sufficient  answer.  And  ought  not  any  one 
who  can  sincerely  do  this  be  treated  as  a  Christian? 

>  SBWALL,  Hon.  SAMUEL  L  L.  D.  was  a  native 
of  Boston,  and  a  grandson  of  Rev.  Dr.  Joseph 
Sewall.  He  received  his  education  in  Harvard  Col- 
lege, with  the  class  of  1776.  He  read  law  in  the 
office  of  Hon.  Francis  Dana,  before  he  was  judge, 
who  then  lived  in  Cambridge.  Mr.  Sewall  was  es- 
teemed a  sound  lawyer,  and  a  faithful  attorney  ;  and 
he  had  a  large  share  of  practice  in  the  county  of  Es- 
sex, having  early  settled  at  Marblehead.  He  repre- 
sented the  southern  district  of  Essex,  in  the  Congress 
of  the  United  States,  for  several  years — and  had 
great  influence  in  that  body  ;  especially  in  all  ques- 
tions of  commerce  and  finance.  His  amiable  charac- 
ter was  also  such  as  to  commend  him  to  all  honora- 
ble and  v^'^ell-principled  men.  In  1800,  he  had  an 
appointment  to  a  »«-Hi  on  the  bench  of  the  Supreme 
Judicial  Conn  ;  and  in  iH13,  on  the  death  of  Judge 
Parsons,  he  was  commissioiifd  as  the  chief  justice; 
but  died  suddenly  the  next  year  Judge  Sewall  was 
highly  esteemed  J  not  <Mily  Um  talents,  learning,  and 


7i'5 
"fed 


ipm 


368 


SAMUEL  8EWALL. 


t 
i  t 


good  judgment,  but  for  integrity,  and  a  high  sense  of 
honor  and  right,  lie  died  at  the  age  of  ififty-seven 
years, 

<  SEWALL,  Hon.  SAMUEL  was  a  son  of  Henry 
Sewall,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Massachusetts ; 
and  had  his  public  education  irt  Harvard  College, 
with  tbe  class  of  1671.  He  was  father  of  Rev.  Dr. 
Joseph  Sewall,  many  years  pastor  of  the  Old  South 
church  and  society  in  Boston.  He  had  a  seat  on 
the  bench  of  the  highest  judicial  couit,  in  1692,  and 
was  one  of  the  judges  before  whom  the  unfortunate 
and  highly-injured  persons  were  tried  on  the  ridicu- 
ious  charge  of  witchcraft.  When  the  Superior  Court 
of  Judicature  was  established,  in  1694,  he  was  one 
of  the  justices;  and  in  1718  was  appointed  the  chief 
justice.  This  place  he  held  till  172iB,  when  he  vol- 
untarily resigned  it  on  account  of  the  infirmities  of 
old  age,  being  then  nearly  eighty.  He  bore  public 
testimony  against  the  slave  trade,  in  1700.  He  read 
much  on  theological  subjects,  and  on  the  prophecies, 
and  some  of  his  writings  were  published.  He  had 
the  character  of  a  good  scholar,  an  able  lawyer,  a 
learned  theologian,  and  a  sincere  Christian.  He 
collected  and  recorded  many  facts  relating  to  the 
early  settlement  and  condition  of  the  colony,  and  to 
the  charfif  ter  of  some  of  the  principal  men.  Quota- 
tions {n»s.h  his  inanuscripts  are  given  in  the  volumes 
of  the  historical  society  \nd  in  other  historical  and 
biograpirival  works.  ni 

SEWALL,  Major  SAMUEL  one  of  the  large 
family  of  Se  walls,  of  York,  Maine,  was  an  intelligent 
mechanic,  and  formed  the  model  and  plan,  according 
to  which  the  bridge  was  constructed  over  the  river 
in  that  place,  in  1761.  It  was  the  first  of  the  kind 
built  in  America.  The  bridge  over  Charles  river  from 
Boston  U>  Charlestown,  erected  in  1786,  was  con- 


• 


h£ 


I      ii 


STBPRBIf  8BWALI. 


369 


sense  of 
y-seven 


Henry 
husetts ; 
College, 
flev.  ut. 
Id  South 
seat  on 
)92,  and 
fortnnate 
e  ridicu- 
ior  Court 
was  one 
the  chief 

he  vol- 

mities  of 

:e  public 

He  read 

ophecies, 

He  had 
awyer,  a 
ian.  He 
ig  to  the 
y,  and  to 

Quota- 
I  volumes 
rical  and 


the  large 
ntelligent 
according 
the  river 
:  the  kind 
river  from 
was  con- 


structed after  Major  Sewall's  model  prepared  for  that 
built  under  his  direction  at  YorK.  Tlie  bridge  from 
Salem  to  Beverly,  and  from  Charlestown  to  Maiden, 
built  a  few  years  later,  were  after  the  same  model. 
Before  the  projectors  of  the  bridge  across  Charles 
river  concluded  to  build  it,  they  had  the  opinion  of 
Major  Sewall,  as  to  the  probability  of  its  resisting  the 
force  of  the  tide  and  the  ice.  He  was  of  opinion  one 
might  be  built  on  the  model  of  that  over  York  river, 
which  had  been  standing  twenty-five  years.  And 
the  bridge  was  constructed  after  the  same  plan — Mr. 
Cox  was  the  master-workman.  That  at  York  was 
indeed  only  two  hundred  and  seventy  feet  long ;  that 
over  Charles  river,  about  1500.  The  latter  was  5rst 
passed  June  17,  1786,  attended  with  great  parade 
and  ceremony. 

SEWALL,  Hon.  STEPHEN,  a  native  of  Salem, 
and  a  near  relative  of  the  former,  (a  nephew  it  is 
believed,)  had  his  public  education  in  Harvard  Col- 
lege, where  he  received  his  first  degree  in  1721 ;  and 
resided  as  an  instructor  nearly  twelve  years.  After 
this,  in  1739,  he  was  appointed  a  justice  of  the  Su- 
perior Court  of  Judicature;  and,  in  1752,  he  suc- 
ceeded Paul  Dudley  as  chief  justice  of  that  court. 
While  a  judge,  he  resided  in  Boston,  and  was  a 
member  of  the  church  in  Boston,  under  the  pastoral 
care  of  Rev.  Dr.  Mayhew.  He  died  in  1756.  And 
in  a  funeral  discourse  the  next  Lord's  day  after  the 
death  of  the  judge,  Dr.  Mayhew  has  described  him 
as  a  man  of  great  sincerity,  probity,  benevolence  and 
piety.  He  says  nothing  of  his  peculiar  view  i  in  re- 
ligion ;  but,  as  he  attended  the  preaching  and  in- 
structions of  Dr.  Mayhew,  it  is  highly  probable,  and 
such  also  is  the  tradition,  that  he  agreed  in  sentiment 
with  that  celebrated  divine.  His  donations  to  the 
poor  were  very  frequent  and  liberal;  and  his  eulo- 
gists say  he  gave  more  than  he  could  well  afford ; 


it 


"«,  ■"•m^ 


370 


S.  SEWALL*->W.  SHEFABD. 


f/>t  the  salaries  of  the  judges  were  then  quite  small ; 
and  he  had  so  little  other  property,  that  he  mutt 
have  been  a  gieat  economist,  to  give  so  liberally  as 
liedid.  ,  ( 

SEWALL,  STEPHEN  was  educated  in  Harvard 
College ;  and  a  few  years  after  be  took  his  degree, 
which  was  in  1762,  he  was  chosen  professor  of  He* 
brew  and  other  oriental  languages,  in  that  seminary, 
on  the  Hancock  foundation.  He  was  reputed  a 
great  proficient  in  the  ancient  languages.  Few  or 
none  understood  the  Hebrew  languages  so  well  as 
Mr.  Sewall ;  and  he  wrote  Latin  with  uncommon 
purity  and  facilitj'.  He  also  studied  mathematics 
and  astronomy  with  more  attention  than  do  most 
philologists.  It  is  not  common  to  find  the  mathe- 
matician and  philologist  untied  in  one  person.  The 
infirmities  of  Mr.  Sewall  obliged  him  to  resign  his 
professorship,  snd  to  abandon  all  literary  pursuits 
before  he  reached  the  age  of  fifty. 

SHEPARD,  General  WILLIAM  was  a  citizen 
of  Westfield,  Massachusetts,  and  joined  the  troops 
collected  at  Cambridge  for  the  defence  of  the  prov- 
ince, soon  after  the  aifair  at  Concord,  of  April  1775. 
He  then  held  a  commission  as  Lieutenant  Colonel,  in 
the  regiment  commanded  by  Colonel  Timothy  Daa- 
ie]sonv.of  Brimfield ;  and  in  1777,  he  was  appointed 
a  chief  Colonel  in  the  Continental  army  ;  and  con- 
tinued in  the  public  military  service  till  the  close  of 
the  war,  m  17S3.  He  had  the  reputation  of  a  brave 
and  efiicient  officer.  On  the  restoration  of  peace. 
Colonel  Shepard  returned  to  his  farm ;  and  like  the 
other  military  patriots  of  that  period,  after  devoting 
seven  or  eight  years  to  the  service  of  the  Republic, 
with  very  inadequate  pecuniabry  reAv&rd,  became  an 
industrious  and  peaceful  citiien.  Wsiea  the  insur- 
rection occurred  under  Shays,  in  1*^86,  on  account 


te  small ; 
he  must 
)oratly  as 

/,  .  '1 
h  -•"  v.n 
Harvard 
iS  degree, 
)r  of  He* 
^minary, 
eputed  a 
Few  or 
D  well  as 
acommon 
thematics 
i  do  most 
le  mathe- 
on.  The 
resign  his 
f  pursuits 


a  citizen 
16  troops 
the  prov- 
pril  1775. 
/olonel,  in 
thy  Daa> 
appointed 
and  con- 
I  close  of 
)f  a  brave 
of  peace, 
I  like  the 
devoting 
Republic, 
Bcame  aa 
be  insur- 
1  account 


WILLIAM    SHSPABD. 


371 


of  the  great  taxes  then  imposed  to  pay  the  debt  ot 
the  Revolutionary  war,   General    Shepard,   being 
then  a  Brigadier   of  the    militia,   in    Hampshire 
County,  was  ordered  out  to  suppress  the  unlawful 
movement.     He  had  particular  orders  to  guard  the 
military  arsenal  at  Springfield;  which  it  was  be- 
lieved the  insurgents  would  attack  and  seize  upon. 
On  this  trying  occasion,  he  conducted  with  equal 
firmness  and  forbearance.     He  stationed  the  men 
under  his  command  near  the  arsenal ;  and  when  the 
insurgents  approached,  he  ordered  them  to  retire,  or 
not  to  proceed  further  on  their  threatened  proiect. 
But  they  continued  to  approach.     He  ordered  them 
a  second  time  to  retire,  and  warned  them  of  their 
danger  if  they  proceeded.     But  they  still  advanced; 
when,  rather  than  to  disobey  his  orders,  or  to  suffer 
them  to  take  possession  of  the  arsenal,  he  fired  on 
them,  and  they  hastily  dispersed.     They  had  been 
told  by  their  desperate  leaders,  that  Shepard   would 
not  dare  give  the  command  to  fire ;  or  would  not  be 
obeyed  by  his  men,  if  he  gave  such  orders.     He  re- 
frained from  this  alternative,  until  it  became  his  im- 
perious duty  to  take  the  decisive  measure,  and  to 
save  the  commonwealth  from  anarchy  and  misrule. 
General  Shepard  was  a  member  of  the  Supreme 
Executive  Council,  after    this    period,   1788-1790, 
and  held  other  places  of  public  trust.     He  was  not 
only  a  brave  military  officer,  but  possessed  traits  of 
character  which  rendered  him  respectable  as  a  citi- 
zen, and  beloved  as  a  relative  and  friend.     Like 
many  of  his    brave    companions    in    arras,   who 
jeoparded  their  lives  for  their  country,  he  was  quite 
poor  and  destitute  in  his  old  age.    Of  him,  and  of 
them,  when  tempted  in  1783,  to  retain  arms  in  their 
hands,  and  to  force  Congress  to  pay  them  for  their 
services.  General  Washington  said  on  that  occasimi, 
otM  of  great  excitement    and  danger,    "  that   the 
crowning  glory  of  their  character,  as  patriots,  would 


372 


BOtiBR   tHBBMAN. 


have  been  wanting,  but  for  their  disinterestedness, 
their  love  of  order,  and  their  submission  to  the  civil 
auUiority." 

SHERMAN,  Hon.  ROGER  was  a  native  of 
Newton,  Massachusetts,  but  removed  to  the  State  of 
Connecticut,  when  a  young  man.  He  had  only  a 
common  education,  such  as  was  given  at  the  town 
schools  Leventy  and  eighty  years  ago,  in  New  Eng- 
land. But  he  was  a  remarkable  man ;  and  duly 
appreciating  the  benefits  of  learning,  became  very 
studious,  and  soon  qualified  himself  for  the  practice 
of  the  law.  After  a  few  years  of  practice,  he  was 
appointed  a  justice  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas, 
for  the  County  of  New  Haven,  and  then  of  the 
Superior  Court  of  Connecticut.  He  took  a  decided 
part  with  the  whigs  in  the  colony,  at  an  early  pe- 
riinl  uf  the  dispute  with  England,  as  to  the  right  of 
paiiiaraent  to  legislate  for  the  people  in  America. 
When  the  Continental  Congress  met  at  Philadelphia, 
in  September  1774,  Mr.  Sherman  had  a  seat  in  that 
patriotic  and  august  assembly,  as  a  delegate  from 
Connecticut:  and  was  again  chosen  a  member  in 
1775  and  1776.  He  was  one  of  the  committee  for 
preparing  the  Declaration  of  National  Independence, 
in  the  year  last  mentioned ;  and  his  name  is  on  that 
memorable  list  of  patriots,  who  risked  property  and 
life,  and  pledged  their  sacred  honor,  in  defence  of 
political  freedom,  such  as  the  country  had  enjoyed 
from  its  first  settlement,  by  the  English,  in  1620. 
With  little  intermission,  Mr.  Sherman  continued  in 
Congress  till  1787;  and  when  the  federal  govern- 
ment was  formed,  in  1789,  he  was  one  of  the  Sena- 
tors in  the  national  legislature,  from  Connecticut. 
He  possessed  great  natural  powers  of  intellect ;  had 
uncommon  discernment,  good  judgment,  and  clear 
and  discriminating  views  on  any  subject  presented 
for  consideration.    He  has  sometimes  been  called  a 


D.    EHUTB — W.    8POONER. 


373 


tednest, 
be  civil 


itive  of 
State  of 
only  a 
\e  town 
9r  £ns- 
nd  duly 
ae  very 
practice 
he  was 
A  Pleas, 
I  of  the 
decided 
arly  pe- 
right  of 
America, 
idelphia, 
t  in  that 
ite  from 
mber  in 
ittee  for 
eudence, 
3  on  that 
erty  and 
sfence  of 
enjoyed 
in  1620. 
inued  in 
govern- 
he  Sena- 
necticut. 
ect ;  had 
nd  clear 
)resented 
called  a 


second  Franklin,  and  was  one  of  the  most  gifted  men 
of  his  age ;  not  so  much  for  a  lively  and  brilliant  im- 
agination, as  for  sound  good  sense,  and  a  compre- 
hensive view  of  the  riglit  and  tl  vpedient  in 
human  affairs. 

SHUTE,  Rev.  DANIEL  D.  P  ncated  in 

Harvard  College,  and  received  his  tjpgioe  m  the  year 
1743.  He  settled  in  the  ministry  in  the  south  part 
of  Hingham  ;  and  continued  the  pastor  of  that  soci- 
ety till  his  decease,  in  1802,  at  the  age  of  eighty. — 
He  had  the  reputation  of  a  good  scholar,  and  a  learned 
theologian.  He  carefully  examined  and  studied 
the  different  systems  of  divinity,  Calvinistic  and  Ar- 
minian  ;  Trinitarian  and  anti-Trinitarian  :  and  was 
well  acquainted  with  the  works  ofthe  early  christian 
writers.  He  belonged  to  the  more  liberal  class  of  the 
clergy;  and  ir.  his  day,  from  1750  to  1800,  many  of 
them  in  Massachusetts  rejected  the  orthodox  creed, 
as  the  Calvinistic  system  has  been  usually  called. 
All  the  members  of  the  association  to  which  Dr. 
Shnte  belonged.  Dr.  Gay,  Dr.  Hitchcock,  Dr.  Barnes, 
Mr.  Brown,  Mr.  Turner,  Mr.  Rand,  Mr.  Smith  and 
Mr.  Grosvenoi,  were  reported  to  be  Arians  and  Ar- 
minians.  Without  presuming  to  give  an  opinion  on 
the  correctness  of  their  creed,  there  is  no  hesitation  in 
saying  that  they  were  learned,  useful  and  pious  men. 

SPOONER,  Hon.  WALTER  was  a  citizen  of 
Dartmouth,  now  Fairhaven,  and  belonged  to  the  de- 
nomination of  the  Friends,  but  one  of  those  who  be- 
lieved a  defensive  war  might  be  justifiable  and  prop- 
er. He  was  a  member  of  the  Provincial  Congress  of 
Massachusetts,  May  1776  ;  and  in  1774  and  1776, 
was  chosen  into  the  Supreme  Executive  Council,  in 
place  of  the  counsellors  arbitrarily  and  unconstitu- 
tionally appointed  by  the  British  ministry.  In  the 
spring  of  177.5,  he  and  James  Sullivan  and  Jede- 
32 


m 


'  M 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT.3) 


1.0 


1.1 


ut  122   122 

ly 


lU 

w 
u 


140 


11-25  i  1.4 


■  2.0 


HiotogFaphic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


^ 


■SJ 


■^"^ 


<N 


^ 


n  VnST  MAIN  STMIT 

WiUTiR,N.Y.  U5M 

(7l6)S7a-4S03 


v\ 


974 


JOHN  8PBAOOB. 


cU«h  Foster,  were  fcnt  ae  agents  b/  the  Proivincial 
Coogress,  to  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  to  di-t. 
reot  a  military  expedition  to  those  places  for  the  pur*, 
pose  of  taking  cannon  and  military  stores  deposited 
there.  Mr.  Spooner  was  elected  counsellor  for  sev* 
eral  years,  besides  those  above  mentioned ;  and  in 
that  department  of  the  government  rendered  much 
important  service  to  the  commonwealth.  He  was 
active  on  committees,  and  faithful,  in  various  ways, 
in  promoting  the  public  interests.  He  was  often  one 
01  a  committee  to  furnish  clothing,  provisions,  and 
other  necessary  supplies  for  the  troops  in  the  field ;— * 
this  was  an  arduous  duty; — much  was  called  for 
and  expected,  but  the  resources  of  the  State  were 
then  small.  At  one  time,  every  fifth,  and  even  every 
fourth  man  was  called  into  the  military  service  of 
the  country ;  and  their  necessary  wants  were  not 
few  nor  small. 

SPRAGUE,  Hon.  JOHN  was  born  in  Rocheste;, 
County  of  Plymouth,  and  was  graduated  at  Har* 
vard  College,  with  the  class  of  1765,  with  the 
character  of  a  good  scholar.  He  studied  law,  and 
soon  settled  in  the  County  of  Worcester.  In  law, 
as  a  science,  he  was  a  great  proficient,  and  his  prac- 
tice was  extensive.  He  did  not  rank  among  the 
ardent  and  decided  whigs  of  1775;  but  when  the 
justices  of  the  court  in  Worcester  county,  and  the 
gentlemen  of  the  bar,  were  requested  by  the  County 
Convention,  sitting  there  in  September  1774,  to  sus- 
pend all  legal  proceedings,  until  there  should  be 
more  content  among  the  people  as  to  the  measures 
of  the  British  towards  the  colonies,  he  and  some 
others  readily  complied  with  the  request.  He  after- 
wards supported  the  measures  adopted  by  the 
patriots,  for  the  preservation  of  the  rights  and  liber- 
ties of  the  colonies,  and  had  a  seat  in  the  General 
Court,  as  a  member  from  Lancaster.    Subsequently 


MILES    STANDI8H. 


876 


nrincial 
;,  to  dH% 
he  puT* 
iposited 
far  lev- 
and  in 
i  much 
He  was 
I  ways, 
ften  one 
OS,  and 
aeld;-* 
lied  for 
te  were 
m every 
irvice  of 
irere  no( 

in' 

& 

icheste;,' 
At  Har- 
rith  the 
aw,  and 
In  law, 
lis  prao 
ong  the 
hen  the 
and  the 
County 
to  sus- 
ould  be 
leasures 
id  some 
le  after> 
by  the 
id  liber- 
General 
squently 


Mr.  Sprague  was  the  sheriff  for  Worcester  county, 
and  Chief  Justice  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas. 
He  possessed  the  entire  confidence  of  his  fellow  citi- 
Bens,  as  a  man  of  probity  and  good  judgment ;  and 
those  who  best  knew  him,  were  willing  to  repose 
their  highest  wordly  interests  in  his  hands.  He 
died  in  1800,  at  the  age  of  sixty  years. 


4^ 


^  STANDISH,  Hon.  MILES  came  to  New  Eng- 
land  in  the  Mav-flower,  in  1620 ;  and  belonged  to 
the  company  which  began  a  settlement  at  Plymouth, 
at  the  close  of  that  year.  He  was  of  a  noble  family 
in  England :  and  sometime  in  military  life  in  Hol- 
land, where  he  joined  the  people  of  Mr.  Robinson's 
church,  then  resolved  on  removing  to  America.  His 
character  is  that  of  an  active,  brave  man  ;  destitute 
of  fear,  and  ever  ready  to  defend  the  settlement  and 
the  company,  when  in  danger  from  the  savages. 
Yet  he  ought  not  to  to  be  supposed  a  desperate  mail, 
"  fond  of  fight ; "  for  he  was  prudent  and  humane ; 
and  never  used  his  sword  but  by  the  authority  of  the 
civil  rulers ;  and  it  was  found  necessary  for  self- 
defence.  The  Indian  chief  he  slew  at  Weymouth, 
first  threatened  and  attempted  to  take  Standish's  life : 
and  he  visited  thrit  place  at  the  urgent  request  of  the 
people  there,  who  were  in  great  danger  from  the  In- 
dians in  the  vicinity.  Standish  was  also  in  civil  of- 
fioo,  treasurer  of  the  Colony,  on  committees  for  sur- 
veying and  laying  out  townships  of  land,  and  many 
years  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Assistants :  and  one 
year  was  deputy  Governor  of  the  Colony.  He  had 
good  judgment  as  well  as  courage ;  and  his  advice 
was  sought  in  all  diMcult  cases,  which  occurred.  He 
commanded  the  military  of  the  colony,  till  sixty-five, 
when  the  infirmities  of  age  required  him  to  resign  the 
station.  When  war  was  expecting  with  the  Dutch  on 
the  Hudson,  in  1654,  Standish  was  appointed  to  com- 
mand the  men  from  that  colony.    Peace  was  restored, 


376 


JOHN  STARK. 


!  II 


and  the  troops  did  not  march  from  New  England. 
He  early  took  up  land  on  the  Duxburjr  side  of  the 
Bay,  and  lived  there  several  of  the  last  years  of  his. 
life.  A  lar^e  hill  in  that  town,  near  the  bay,  was  in- 
cluded in  his  farm ;  and  received  the  name  of  "  Cap- 
tain's Hill."  Elder  Brewster,  and  John  Alden,  who 
also  came  in  the  May-flower,  were  his  neighbors. 
The  name  of  the  town  was  probably  given  it  from 
the  fact,  that  the  villa,  or  the  parish,  where  bis  family 
resided,  was  called  Duxbury.  There  is  now  a  man- 
sion, or  castle,  in  Lancashire,  near  Liverpool,  called 
Duxbury  Hall.  Captain  Standish  left  four  sons ;  and 
one  of  them  married  a  daughter  of  John  Alden. 

STARK,  General  JOHN  was  a  native  of  New 
Hampshire,  and  was  in  the  military  service,  a  part 
of  the  war  with  the  French,  in  1755-1762.  He  was 
a  decided  whig,  and  early  engaged  in  the  service  of 
the  country  as  a  military  officer,  in  1775.  Soon  after 
the  attack  of  the  British  troops  on  the  people  at  Lex- 
ington and  Concord,  April  19,  large  bodies  of  the 
militia  assembled  at  Cambridge  and  vicinity,  for  the 
defence  and  safety  of  the  country.  They  had  not 
then  resolved  to  be  independent  of  England ;  but  they 
^^d  determined,  with  great  unanimity,  to  maintain 

)U  political  rights  and  liberties ;  and  to  resist  any 
.  ...ce  used  to  subdue  and  enslave  them.  In  a  few 
weeks,  fifteen  thousand  of  the  militia  were  collected ; 
some  of  them  from  New  Hampshire,  Rhode  Island, 
and  Connecticut.  Two  regiments  marched  from 
New  Hampshire,  and  took  up  their  quarters  in  Med- 
ford.  Colonel  Stark  commanded  one  of  the  regi- 
ments ;  and  was  in  some  sense,  the  commander  of 
the  whole.  These  troops  hastened  >:o  the  heiehts 
of  Charlcstown,  on  the  17th  June,  on  hearing  of  the 
fortification  made  there,  and  of  the  expected  attack 
of  the  British  troops,  then  in  Boston,  to  ^le  number 
of  ten  thousand.    The  militia  under  Stark  arrived  in 


SAMOn.   gTtLLMAN. 


377 


ngland. 
I  of  the 
I  of  his 
was  in- 

"Cap- 
sn,  who 
ghbors. 
it  from 
i  family 

aman- 
i,  called 
Ds;  and 

2D. 

Df  New 
a  part 
He  was 
rvice  of 
ton  after 
atLex- 

of  the 

for  the 
lad  not 
mt  they 
maintain 
sist  any 

a  few 
llected ; 
Island, 
d  from 
in  Med- 
le  regi- 
ader  of 
heights 
:  of  the 

attack 
iuml»er 
rived  ip 


good  time,  and  repaired  to  the  rail  fence  on  the  north- 
east of  the  fort ;  where  they,  and  others  ordered  there, 
■did  great  execution  on  the  enemy,  gif  ing  them  an 
effectual  check  in  their  two  first  attacks.  General 
Stark  rendered  very  essential  service  in  his  attack 
on  a  large  detachment  from  Gen.  Bourgoyne's  army, 
September  1777,  sent  out  to  scour  the  country  in  the 
western  part  of  Vermont.  Gen.  Stark  met  them 
with  the  militia,  and  obliged  them  to  retreat  with 
great  loss.  This  was  the  first  check,  the  boasting 
and  advancing  army  of  Bonrgoyne  received.  From 
that  time,  he  was  obliged  to  act  on  the  defensive. 
He  advanced  no  further  into  the  country,  as  he  had 
threatened.  The  American  troops  in  that  quarter, 
under  Gen.  Gates,  were  animated  with  hope ;  and 
made  still  greater  efforts  to  oppose  the  British  army. 
In  October,  that  whole  division  of  the  British  troops, 
sent  to  subdue  America,  was  captured.  AHer  the 
affair  at  Trenton,  December  1776,  and  at  Princeton, 
January  1777,  the  capture  of  the  northern  army  un- 
der Bourgoyne,  was  the  most  brilliant  success  attend-* 
ing  the  American  arms.  General  Stark  was  a  Brig- 
adier of  the  continental  army ;  and  was  in  active 
service  most  of  the  war.  He  was  one  of  the  oldest 
officers ;  even  more  aged  than  Ward,  or  Thomas,  or 
Putnam.  Perhaps,  Preble  and  Pomeroy  were  as  old. 
He  survived  the  Revolution  several  years;  and  died 
at  an  advanced  age,  nearly  ninety. 

STILLMAN,  Rev.  SAMUEL  D.  D.  had  a  good 
private  education,  and  an  honorary  degree  of  Master 
of  Arts,  in  Harvard  College,  and  in  Brown  University; 
and  from  the  latter  also  received  the  degree  of  D.  D. 
He  was  ordained  as  pastor  of  the  first  anti-Pasdobap'* 
tist  soeieiy  in  Boston,  in  the  year  1769,  and  contin-' 
ued  till  his  decease,  in  1807.  Dr.  Stiliman  was  a 
very  popular  preacher,  but  his  discourses  were  not 
much  studied;  he  generally  preached  extempore. 
32* 


378 


SOLOMON  STODDARD. 


'i 


His  manner  was  earnest  and  impressive ;  and  all 
yrho  heard  him,  readily  awarded  to  him  the  merit 
of  zeal  and  sinceritv.  There  was  not  a  great  varie-. 
ty  in  bis  public  addresses ;  and  he  dealt  much  in 
admonition  and  exhortation.  Dr.  Stillman  frequent^ 
ly  associated  with  the  Congregational  clergy  of 
Boston,  and  exchanged  pulpits  with  several  of  them. 
His  Church  were  exclusive  in  one  point,  they  re- 
fused to  commune  with  those  who  had  not  been  bap- 
tised by  immersion,  and  thaf  in  adult  age.  But  it 
was  said  by  some  of  his  friends,  that  he  did  not  in- 
sist on  this  condition  as  essential  to  the  Christian 
character.  Dr.  Stillman  was  a  faithful  pastor; 
greatly  beloved  by  his  people,  and  respected  by  all 
who  knew  him. 


i 

I  ,         3!.*  I 


'      3: 


STODDARD,  Rev.  SOLOMON  who  was  many 
years  the  pastor  of  the  congregational  church  and 
society  in  Northampton,  received  his  education  in 
Harvard  College,  where  he  was  graduated  in  the 
year  1662.  He  settled  in  the  ministry,  in  a  few 
years  after  he  left  the  university ;  and  had  the  repu- 
tation of  an  able  and  learned  divine.  In  his  knowl- 
edge of  ecclesiastical  history,  and  of  the  works  of 
early  Christian  writers,  he  surpassed  most  others  of 
his  time.  He  was  powerful  in  argument,  and  a 
subtile  logician  ;  he  gave  much  attention  to  system- 
atic and  dogmatical  theology ;  and  laid  great  stress 
on  a  belief,  or  profession  of  speculative  points,  which 
have  little  influence  or  connection  with  practice ;  but 
which  he  often  urged  as  essential  to  all  true  religion 
and  sincere  piety.  This  is  an  error  in  speculative 
men,  and  the  advocates  for  systematic  theology. 
They  are  sometimes  ready  to  conclude  that  no  one 
can  be  truly  penitent,  or  devout,  or  habitually  con- 
form to  the  Divine  will,  except  he  embraces,  or  p?o-, 
fesses  a  certain  system  of  doctrines;  and  are  thus 
led,  with  good  intentions,  no  doubt,  but  from  a  train 


I 


WILUAM  STOUOHTON. 


379 


lud  all 
B  merit 
t  varie-' 
mch  ia 
equent- 
rgy    of 
if  them, 
hey  re- 
ten  bap- 
But  it 
not  in- 
Ihristian 
pastor ; 
1  by  all 

•  ■  "rt 
IS  many 
rch  and 
ation  in 
in  the 
a  few 
ie  repu- 
knowl- 

VOTkB  of 

>thers  of 
and  a 
system- 
Git  stress 
which 
ce;  but 
religion 
culative 
leology. 
no  one 
ly  Con- 
or pfo-, 
lie  ihua 
a  train 


of  reasoning  more  ingenious  than  solid,  to  require  a 
more  particular  and  specific,  or  technical  profession, 
than  it  appears  tlie  apostles  did.  They  requirea 
faith  in  Christ,  as  the  Messiah,  or,  in  the  figurative 
language  of  prophecy,  as  the  Son  of  God  ;  and  re- 
pentance and  faith  towards  God ;  and  then  judged 
of  a  man's  religious  character  by  his  conduct.  Mr. 
Stoddard  was  esteemed  a  good  writer  in  his  day; 
and  several  sermons  of  his,  which  were  published, 
bear  testimony  to  his  learning  and  talents.  Among 
them,  are  an  election  sermon ;  a  discourse  osi  the 
death  of  John  Pynchon ;  and  a  lecture  on  the  degen- 
eracy of  the  times,  delivered  in  Boston.  ^ 

STOUGHTON.,  Hon.  WILLIAM  was  a  son  of 
Israel  Stoughton,  one  of  the  principal  inhabitants  of 
Dorchester  at  its  first  settlement.  Israel  was  a  mili- 
tary officer,  and  also  one  of  the  assistants  at  an  early 
period  in  the  history  of  Massachusetts.  Mr.  Stough- 
ton, the  son,  received  his  public  education  in  Harvard 
College,  with  the  class  of  1650.  He  then  had  the 
character  of  a  diligent  student,  and  a  good  scholar. 
He  studied  theology  sometime,  with  a  view  to  devote 
himself  to  the  christian  ministry  for  life ;  and  he 
preached  occasionally,  for  several  years,  but  declined 
taking  permanent  charge  of  any  society.  He  deliv- 
ered a  sermon  on  one  of  the  anniversaries  of  the 
general  election  of  civil  officers  in  the  colony,  1668, 
which  was  published,  and  gained  him  great  applause 
as  a  good  writer  and  a  sound  politician.  It  was  one 
of  the  best  delivered  on  a  similar  occasion,  for  the 
first  half  century  from  the  settlement  of  Massachu- 
setts. Those  of  Mr.  Mitchel,  of  President  Oakes^ 
and  of  Mr.  Hubbard  of  Ipswich,  were  highly  com- 
mended ;  but  were  not  superior  to  that  by  Mr.  Stough- 
ton. He  was  always  a  great  friend  to  the  clergy, 
and  an  advocate  for  the  religious  institutions  of  New 
England.     He  preferred  the  forms  of  worship,  an4 


380 


CALEB  STRONG. 


the  discipline  and  government  of  the  congregational 
churches,  before  those  adopted  and  obseryed  in  the 
Episcopal  church  in  England.  In  his  faith,  and  man- 
ners, and  religious  views,  he  was  a  true  puritan, 
and  had  as  great  a  portion  of  that  spirit  as  those  of 
the  former  generation.  He  was  early  invited  to  take 
a  ^are  in  the  civil  affairs  of  the  colony ;  and  was  a 
deputy  from  Dorchester ;  one  of  the  Executive  Coun- 
cil ;  an  agent  to  England,  1677,  with  the  Speaker, 
Peter  Bulkley ;  Lieutenant  Governor;  Chief  Justice 
of  the  Superior  Court  of  Judicature ;  and  in  the  ab- 
sence of  the  Governor,  the  chief  magistrate  from  1693 
to  1703 ;  with  the  exception  of  one  year,  when  Earl 
Bellamont  was  in  the  province.  His  administration 
was  highly  popular ;  and  while  he  was  chief  magis- 
trate, the  public  welfare  of  the  province  was  main- 
tained, ana  its  prosperity  promoted.  He  gave  liberal" 
ly  to  Harvard  College ;  and  Stoughton  HtHl,  so  called, 
which  was  taken  down  in  1780,  was  erected  by 
funds  furnished  by  him,  in  1700.  He  was  much  be- 
loved by  the  people  ol  Dorchester ;  and  when  a  part 
of  that  town,  which  at  first  extended  almost  to  the 
southwest  bounds  of  the  Colony,  was  set  off  as  a 
separate  town,  in  1725,  it  was  called  by  his  name. 

STRONG,  Hon.  CALEB  L.  L.  D.,  was  born  at 
Northampton,  Massachusetts,  and  received  his  edu- 
cation in  Harvard  College,  with  the  class  of  1764. 
He  studied  law,  and  was  several  years  in  extensive 
practice  in  the  county  of  Hampshire,  and  other  parts 
of  the  State.  In  1776,  he  represented  his  native  town 
in  the  General  Court,  when  he  was  about  thirty-one  *, 
and  before  that  time,  the  celebrated  patriot  Hawley 
said  **  he  was  a  hopeful  son  of  liberty."  Fi-nn  that 
tiriie  Mr.  Strong  continued  in  public  .life  and  in  high 
stations,  with  the  exception  of  a  very  few  years,  un- 
til his  death,  in  1819 ;  which  embraces  a  period  of 
forty-two  years.    He  was  a  member  of  the  Senate  of 


James  sullivan. 


381 


Rational 
1  in  the 
id  mano 
)arltan, 
those  01 
to  take 
1  was  a 
B  Coun- 
peaker, 
Justice 
the  ah- 
nnl693 
en  Earl 
stration 
f  magis- 
s  maiii- 
I  libcral- 
0  called, 
cted  by 
luch  be- 
n  a  part 
t  to  the 
off  as  a 
lame. 

)orn  at 
lis  edu- 
)fl764. 


Massachusetts ;  of  the  Convention  for  forming  the 
Federal  Constitution,  in  1787 ;  of  the  State  Conven- 
tion to  adopt  it ;  was  appointed  a  Justice  of  the  Su- 
preme Judicial  Court,  but  decUned ;  a  Senator  in  Con- 
gress in  1789,  and  several  following  years ;  Governor 
of  Massachusetts  from  1800  to  1807 ;  and  again  from 
1812  to  1816,  when  he  retired  from  public  life.  No 
one  ever  had  a  geater  share  of  the  public  confidence, 
excepting  George  Washington.  He  was  intelligent, 
prudent;  moderate,  and  conciliatory,  yet  firm  oif 
purpose.  He  well  understood  the  human  character, 
and  was  well  aware  of  the  ambition,  and  the  selfish- 
ness of  the  greater  part  of  mankind.  In  political 
disputes,  and  in  public  troubles,  the  people  looked 
to  him  for  advice.  He  was  no  demagogue — he  sought 
the  public  good,  rather  than  the  popular  favor.  His 
religious  views  were  elevated  and  liberal ;  he  laid 
little  stress  on  speculative  opinions.  When  in  Bos- 
ton, he  attended  public  worship  in  Brattle  street, 
under  Dr.  Thacher,  Mr.  Buckminster,  and  Mr.  Ever- 
ett. Intelligence,  good  judgment,  and  moral  virtue, 
form  a  perfect  character :  and  these  attributes  were 
all  found  in  Governor  S'trong. 

SULLIVAN,  Hon.  JA  :«ES  L  L.  D.  was  a  brother 
of  John,  hereafter  named ;  and  having  received  a  good 
education,  though  not  in  any  college,  entered  on  the 
practice  of  the  law,  at  Georgetown,  on  the  Kennebec 
river ;  and  soon  moved  to  Biddeford,  situated  on  the . 
banks  of  the  Saco,  where  he  resided  in  1774.  He 
early  discovered  his  attachment  to  civil  liberty,  and 
to  the  cause  of  the  colonies,  then  oppressed  by  the 
parent  government.  Before  that  time,  the  colonial 
assemblies  had  legislated  in  all  matters  of  internal 
concern,  especially  in  laying  taxes.  They  acknowl- 
«dged  allegiance  to  the  king,  but  impugned  the 
claims  of  parliament  to  impose  taxes,  or  to  legislate 
in  the  internal  affairs  of  the  country.    Mr.  Sullivrn 


/ 


^'. 


382 


JAMBS  8VLLI?Alf. 


if 


WHS  a  delesate  from  Biddeford  to  the  provincial 
Congress  of  Massachusetts,  in  October  1774,  of  Feb- 
ruary 1775,  and  of  May  1775.  He  was  also  a  rep- 
r'jentative,  in  July  1775,  when  the  House  succeed- 
ed to  the  assembly,  called  a  Congress.  He  proved  a 
very  efficient  member  of  all  these  assemblies,  and 
many  important  reports  and  resolves  were  prepared 
by  him.  With  Walter  Spooner  and  Jedediah  Fos- 
ter, he  went  to  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  in 
June  1775,  to  oversee  and  direct  the  military  move- 
ments on  Lake  Champlain,  where  some  troops  from 
Connecticut  and  Massachusetts  had  proceeded  in 
May,  to  take  possession  of  the  forts  and  military 
stores  there,  to  prevent  their  falling  into  the  hands 
of  the  British.  Those  places  were  fortified  in  the 
former  war  with  France,  in  1758-63 ;  and  there  re- 
mained a  large  quantity  of  cannon,  fire  arms  and 
ammunition.  In  1776,  Mr.  Sullivan,  then  living  in 
Groton,  was  commissioned  a  judge  of  the  Superior 
Court ;  and  remained  on  the  bench  about  six  years, 
when  he  resigned.  He  was  soon  after  appointed  to 
the  office  of  attorney-general,  which  he  held  till 
1807,  when  he  was  elected  Governor  of  the  Common- 
wealth. He  was  again  chosen  in  December  1808, 
and  died  in  December  of  that  year.  Mr.  Sullivan 
had  great  merit  for  his  literary  application,  by  which 
he  rose  to  a  high  rank  among  the  attornies  and 
jurists  of  the  country.  He  had  talents  of  the  first 
order,  and  he  was  uncommonly  industrious  in  his 
professional  business.  He  wrote  the  great  part  of  his 
history  of  Maine,  when  on  the  circuits  with  the  jus- 
tices of  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court,  as  attorney-gen- 
eral. His  business  as  an  attorney  for  individuals, 
besides  his  official  duties,  was  very  extensive.  Ex- 
cept Theophilus  Parsons,  his  legal  business  was 
probably  greater  than  that  of  any  one  in  the  State. 
Governor  Sullivan  was  a  member  of  several  societies ; 
and  was  president  of  the  Historical  Society,  and  of 


JOHN  tVLUTAN — I.  8U1IMEB. 


383 


roTiticial 

of  Feb- 

10  a  rep- 

flucceed- 

R roved  a 
es,  and 
prepared 
iah  Fos- 
Point,  in 
ry  move- 
ops  from 
eeded  in 
military 
lie  hands 
ed  in  the 
there  re- 
eirms  and 
living  in 
Superior 
9ix  years, 
x)inted  to 
held  till 
Common- 
•er  1808, 
Sullivan 
|by  which 
lies  and 
the  first 
IS  in  his 
lart  of  his 
the  jas- 
ney-gen- 
ividuals, 
ve.    Ex- 
less  was 
jthe  State, 
(societies ; 
ly,  and  of 


the  society  for  propagating  the  gospel  among  Indians 
and  others.  As  chief  magistrate,  be  was  able  and 
impartial,  discarding  mere  party  feelings ;  and  as  a 
parent,  he  was  affectionate  and  faithful.  He  had 
some  political  enemies ;  but  many  personal  friends. 
His  sons  proved  worthy  of  their  parentage  and  their 
education. 

SULLIVAN,  Gekbeal  JOHN  L  L.  D.  was  a 
citizen  of  Berwick,  when  the  war  of  the  Revolution 
commenced.  He  received  a  good  common  educa- 
tion when  young,  chiefly  from  his  father.  He  was 
a  lawyer  by  profession,  and  began  the  practice  in 
]773,  inNew  Hampshire.  He  took  a  decided  part 
with  the  friends  of  liberty,  at  an  early  period  of 
the  contest.  He  was  one  of  the  delegates  from 
New  Hampshire,  to  the  first  Continental  Congress, 
in  September  1774.  In  1775,  he  entered  the  mili- 
tary department,  and  was  a  General  officer  at  Cam- 
bridge, over  the  New  Hampshire  troops,  in  1776. 
He  was  soon  after  appointed  a  Major-General  in  the 
Continental  army,  and  was  continued  in  that  station 
till  the  close  of  the  war.  On  several  important 
occasions  and  enterprises,  which  required  intelli- 
gence and  good  judgment,  as  well  as  promptness 
and  couraee,  he  was  appointed  to  the  command,  by 
General  Washington :  and  always  enjoyed  the  esteem 
and  confidence  of  that  eminent  personage.  After 
the  termination  of  the  war,  he  reftrned  to  the  State 
of  New  Hampshire,  where  he  had  before  resided ; 
and  was  several  years  chosen  the  Chief  Magistrate 
of  that  State.  He  was  also  judge  of  the  United 
States  Court,  for  the  district  of  New  Hampshire,  till 
his  death,  in  1795,  at  the  age  of  fifty-four.  He  had 
the  character  of  an  able  and  intelligent  civilian,  as 
well  as  of  a  brave  and  meritorious  military  officer. 

SUMNER,   Hon.   INCREASE  L  L.  D.   was  a 


384 


llfCBEASK     SVMfriB. 


I 


In ' 


citizen  of  Roxbury,  and  received  his  public  educa- 
tion in  Harvard  College,  where  he  was  graduated 
in  1767.  He  early  took  part  with  the  patriots  in 
Massachusetts,  in  support  of  colonial  rights  and 
civil  freedom,  such  as  the  people  had  enjoyed  from 
the  first  settlement  of  the  colony.  It  was  not  an 
opposition  to  the  regular  and  usual  exercise  of  pow- 
er in  the  British  administration,  nor  did  the  people 
in  this  country  demand  any  new  or  greater  powers, 
than  formerly  exercised ;  they  sought  only  to  retain 
the  political  and  civil  authority  of  their  fathers. 
They  acknowledged  allegiance  to  the  crown,  but 
denied  the  right  of  parliament,  in  which  they  were 
not  represented,  to  legislate  over  them.  They  un- 
derstood their  rights ;  and  were  resolved,  if  possible, 
to  hand  them  down  unimpaired  to  their  children,  as 
their  brave  and  virtuous  fathers  had  done  for  them. 
Mr.  Sumner  was  one  of  these  intelligent  and  reso- 
lute patriots.  He  was  one  of  the  representatives 
from  Roxbury  in  the  General  Court,  in  1776,  and 
for  several  successive  years.  William  Heath,  and 
Aaron  Davis,  who  were  members  of  the  Provincial 
Congress,  in  1775,  were  several  years  older  than 
Sumner.  But  General  Heath  was  more  engaged  in 
the  military  department.  Mr.  Sumner  was  appoint- 
ed an  associate  justice  of  the  Supreme  Judicial 
Court  in  1782 ;  a  high  and  responsible  station,  given 
only  to  men  of  talents,  of  superior  legal  informa- 
tion, and  of  honorable  characters.  In  1797,  on  the 
voluntary  retirement  of  Governor  Samuel  Adams, 
Judge  Sumner  was  elected  Chief  Magistrate  of  the 
Commonwealth ;  and  again  in  17^ ;  and  in  1799, 
but  died  early  in  June,  and  before  he  was  formally 
inducted  into  office.  As  a  citizen,  a  judge  and  Qov- 
emor^  Mr.  Sumner  had  the  character  of  a  well- 
principled,  virtuous,  and  benevolent  man ;  faithful 
in  public  office,  and  exemplary  in  all  the  relations  of 
private  life.     In  his  manners,  he  united  courtesy 


WILLIAM   8T1IMB8. 


385 


educa- 
aduated 
triots  in 
;hi8  and 
ed  from 
I  not  an 
of  pow- 
e  people 
'  powers, 
to  retain 
fathers, 
own,  but 
ley  were 
rhey  un- 
possible, 
ildren,  as 
for  them, 
ind  reso- 
sentatives 
1776,  and 
eath,  and 
Provincial 
der  than 
gaged  in 
appoint- 
Judicial 
Ion,  given 
I  informa- 
\7,  on  the 
Adams, 
|te  of  the 
in  1799, 
formally 
md  Gov- 
a  well- 
,,  faithful 
llations  of 
courtesy 


with  dignity ;  and  the  kindly  feelings  of  his  heart, 
were  indicated  by  a  placid  and  cheerful  demeanor 
on  all  occasions. 

SYMMES,  Rev.  WILLIAM  D.  D.,  was  educated 
in  Harvard  College,  and  received  a  degree  there  in 
1750.     He  was  some  time  an  instructer  in  that  sem- 
inary ;  and  afterwards  was  ordained  in  the  christian 
ministry,  over  the  church  and  society  in  Andover, 
county  of  Essex.     He  survived  to  an  advanced  age, 
and  had  the  reputation  of  a  learned  and  able  divine. 
Very  few  of  the  clerical  profession  were  superior  to 
him  in  talents,  or  more  popul  ir  as  a  preacher.     He 
belonged  to  the  more  liberal  or  Arminian  party ;  and 
entertained  similar  theological  views  with  Rev.  Ed- 
ward Barnard  of  Haverhill,  Rev.  Dr.  John  Tucker 
of  Newbury,  Rev.  Thomas  Gary  of  Newburyport, 
Dr.  Samuel  Webster  of  Salisbury,  and  Dr.  Thomas 
Barnard  of  Salem.    These  clergymen  and  many  oth- 
ers, seventy  or  eighty  years  ago,  gradually  departed 
from  the  Calvinistic  system,  and  forbore  to  urge  or 
to  profess  its  peculiar  tenets,  although  they  did  not 
so  expressly  and  zealously  oppose  them  as  many  have 
done  in  later  times.     They  also  omitted  to  press  the 
Athanasian  creed,  or  to  use  the  Trinitarian  doxology : 
but  preferred  scripture  expressions  on  these  disputed 
points.    They  did  not  insist,  as  a  preliminary  to  the 
ordination  of  a  young  man  to  the  christian  ministry, 
on  his  professing  a  belief  of  the  Trinity,  or  of  the  five 
points  of  Calvinism.    They  required  a  declaration 
of  faith  in  the  Bible,  and  a  promise  to  make  that  the 
standard  and  guide  of  their  preaching.    But  a  belief 
in  Jesus  Christ  as  the  true  Messiah,  the  only  Media- 
tor and  Redeemer,  and  the  pardon  of  sin,  on  repent- 
ance, by  divine  grace,  was  considered  as  necessary 
by  this  class  of  theologians  as  well  as  by  those  who 
received  the  tenets  of  the  Calvinistic  system.    They 
held  christian  fellowship  with  each  other  for  some 
33 


386 


8AMUBL  8TM0NDS. 


years ;  but  the  difference  of  sentiments  has  produced 
an  alienation  between  them,  much  to  be  regretted  by 
the  true  spiritual  christian. 

SYMONDS,  Hon.  SAMUEL  was  an  inhabitant 
of  Ipswich,  in  the  County  of  Essex,  the  oldest  town 
next  to  Salem  and  Lynn,  in  the  county.  He  came 
early  to  Massachusetts,  but  not  with  the  first  compa- 
ny. He  had  received  a  good  education  in  England, 
before  he  emigrated  to  America ;  and  probably  haa 
read  law.  His  writings  show  that  he  was  familiar 
both  with  the  principles  and  the  forms  of  law.  He 
inherited  a  large  estate.  He  acted  as  a  magistrate 
sometime  in  Essex  county ;  and  his  opinions  were 
judicious,  and  his  decisions  generally  considered  just 
and  equitable.  He  was  one  of  the  assistants  in  1643, 
and  also  deputy  governor,  in  1673.  When  Leverstt 
was  Governor,  Mr.  Symonds  had  public  employment 
under  the  government  of  Massachusetts,  on  various 
occasions;  and  a  commissioner,  with  S.  Bradstreet, 
and  Captain  Wiggins,  to  adjust  disputes  in  Maine, 
between  Massachusetts,  and  certain  tenants  there  of 
Sir  F.  Gorges.  The  agents  of  Gorges  denied  the 
right  of  Massachusetts  to  govern  or  legislate  for  that 
territory ;  but  the  majority  of  the  inhabitants  wish- 
ed to  be  under  its  jurisdiction.  In  the  early  settle- 
ment of  Massachusetts,  the  government  bad  Aiao 
claimed  the  territory  of  Maine,  as  far  as  Saco,  as 
being  within  their  bounds.  For  they  contenaed, 
that  a  line  east  from  a  point,  three  miles  north  of 
the  most  northern  waters  of  the  Merrimack,  was 
their  northern  boundary.  Mr.  Symonds  was  held 
in  great  respect  as  a  religious  character ;  a  sincere 
puritan,  and  a  good  practical  Christian,  as  well  at 
orthodox  in  his  opinions,  relating  to  the  received 
theological  system  of  his  day. 


('«> 
I  „ 


t.  a:        j«<..a: 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


TAPPAN,  Rbv.  DAVID  D.  D.,  was  prepared  for 
college  by  Mr.  Moody,  master  of  the  Dummer  Acade- 
my, at  Newbury ;  and  received  his  degree  in  Harvard 
University,  in  the  year  1771.  He  studied  theology, 
and  was  soon  ordained  over  a  congregational  church 
and  society  in  Newbury.  He  early  gained  a  high 
reputation  in  the  churches,  and  among  his  clerical 
brethren,  for  theological  learning,  for  his  conduct  as 
a  pastor,  and  for  eloquence  and  zeal  as  a  preacher. 
In  doctrine,  he  was  evangelical  and  catholic ;  per- 
haps more  like  Dr.  Watts,  or  Dr.  Doddridge,  of  Ice- 
land, than  any  other  minister  in  New  England.  He 
was  not  ultra  in  his  creed,  either  as  regards  Calvin- 
ism, or  its  opposite  ;  and  some,  therefore,  considered 
him  wanting  in  decision  of  character,  and  even  as 
seeking  popularity.  But  those  who  knew  him  well, 
believed  him  to  be  sincere;  and  one  who  was  too 
judicious  and  too  enlarged  in  his  views,  to  be  very 
exclusive,  or  to  denounce  others  as  infidels  who  did 
not  think  with  him  on  all  speculative  points  in 
theology.  In  1792,  Dr.  Tappan  was  elected  pro- 
fessor of  divinity  in  Harvard  College,  and  renuuned 
in  that  important  station  till  his  death,  in  1803.  As 
professor.  Dr.  Tappan  was  very  acceptable ;  he  was 
studious  and  well  qualified,  and  anxious  for  the  im- 
provement of  those  who  attended  on  his  instructions ; 
and  his  character  for  piety,  sincerity,  humility  and 
benevolence,  could  not  fail  to  impart  a  favorable  in- 


388 


T.  THACHER — P.  THACHER. 


fluence  to  the  students.  He  became  more  liberal,  in 
advanced  life,  towards  those  who  differed  somewhat 
from  his  views  of  revealed  religion.  And  wherever 
he  observed  the  Christian  spirit,  humble  piety,  a  de- 
vout frame  of  mind,  and  an  habitually  holy  life,  he 
readily  recognized  a  brother  in  Christ,  the  divine 
teacher  and  Saviour  of  men. 

THACHER,  Rev.  THOMAS  came  to  Massachu- 
setts when  he  was  a  youth,  and  within  a  few  years 
after  the  first  settlement  of  the  colony.  He  settled 
in  the  ministry  in  Weymouth,  and  continued  in  that 
station  several  years.  He  had  studied  medicine, 
and  attended  frequently  to  the  practice  among  his 
people ;  a  thiuj^  not  very  uncommon  at  that  period, 
as  there  were  lew  places  in  which  a  good  physician 
could  be  found.  Mr.  Thacher  was  installed  over  the 
church  in  Boston,  in  1665 ;  which  is  now  called  the 
Old  South ;  and  which  was  formed  at  that  time,  by 
a  large  number  of  those  who  had  been  members  of 
the  first  church ;  but  who  were  dissatisfied  with  the 
settlement  of  Mr.  Davenport,  from  New  Haven,  over 
that  church.  After  the  separation,  the  newly-formed 
church  and  society  called  Mr.  Thacher,  and  he  con- 
sented to  leave  Weymouth  and  settle  in  Boston.  He 
published  a  discourse  delivered  on  a  Fast-day  ;  and 
a  treatise  on  the  small  pox — which  proved  very 
mortal  before  the  practice  of  innoculation ;  which  did 
not  prevail  till  1721,  nearly  fifty  years  after  the  time 
of  Mr.  Thacher. 

THACHER,  Rev.  PETER  a  son  of  Rev.  Thomas 
Thacher,  was  the  pastor  of  the  church  and  society 
in  Milton.  He  haa  his  public  education  in  Harvard 
College,  with  the  class  of  1671.  Mr.  Thacher  had 
the  reputation  of  a  good  scholar  ]  and  was  sometime 
a  Fellow  of  the  college.  In  his  pulpit  performances, 
he  is  represented  as  eloquent  and  impressive  j  and 


PVTBE  THACHEB. 


389 


)ral,  in 
lewhat 
lerever 
',  a  de- 
life,  he 
divine 


isachu- 
r  years 
settled 
in  that 
edicine, 
[)ng  his 
period, 
Lysician 
3ver  the 
lied  the 
ime,  by 
[ibers  of 
vith  the 
3n,  over 
formed 
le  con- 
n.    He 
;  and 
EJd  very 
lich  did 
le  time 


!*homas 
society 
larvard 
ler  had 
>metime 
nances, 
re:  and 


he  ranked  among  the  most  able  theologians  of 
his  time.  Rev.  Mr.  Barnard,  of  Marblehead,  spoke 
of  him  as  one  of  the  learned  divines  of  the  second 
generation,  in  New  England,  at  about  the  close  of 
we  seventeenth  and  beginning  of  the  eighteenth 
century.  His  discourse  on  the  day  of  general  elec- 
tion, in  1711,  was  published,  and  is  creditable  to 
him  as  a  scholar  and  a  writer.  His  wife  was  a 
daughter  of  Rev.  John  Oxenbridge,  of  Boston ;  and 
his  mother,  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Ralph  Patridge,  of 
Duxbury.  He  died  in  1727,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
seven. 

THACHER,  Rev.  PETER  of  Middleborough,  a 
son  of  the  minister  of  Milton,  received  a  degree  in 
Harvard  College,  in  1706;  and  was  ordained  in 
1709.  He  died  in  1744,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six.  He 
was  a  faithful  and  ''  able  minister  of  the  new  coven- 
ant ;  "  but  was  less  known  in  literary  circles,  than 
several  others  of  the  family,  who  were  clergymen. 

THACHER,  Rev.  PETER,  a  grandson  of 
Thomas,  before  named,  and  a  son  of  Ralph  Thacher, 
(a  brother  of  Peter,  of  Milton,)  who  was  a  preacher 
on  Martha's  Vineyard,  but  not  of  a  collegiate  educa- 
tion— was  graduated  in  1696,  in  Harvard  College. 
He  was  first  ordained  in  the  ministry  in  Weymouth, 
where  his  grandfather  has  been  settled.  After  fif- 
teen vARTs,  he  removed  to  Boston,  and  took  charge 
of  a  society  in  the  north  part  of  the  town.  He  had 
many  opposers ;  and  the  disputes  between  them  and 
his  friends,  were  very  violent  for  some  years.  The 
services  of  his  installation  were  interrupted  by  tu- 
mult and  force.  But  he  officiated  as  the  pastor  of  a 
portion  of  the  church  and  society,  which  seceded, 
till  1739,  and  near  the  time  of  his  decease.  He 
preached  the  discourse  at  a  general  election,  which 
was  published. 
33* 


390 


0.    THACHBB. — P.    THACBfiB. 


THACHER,  OXENBRIDGE  Esq.  was  a  grand- 
son  of  Rev.  Peter  Thacher,  of  Milton,  and  son  of 
Oxenbridge  Thacher,  sometime  a  respectable  mer- 
chant of  Boston,  and  also  a  citizen  ot  Milton.  He 
received  his  public  education  in  Harvard  College, 
with  the  class  of  1738.  Oxenbridge  Thacher,  last 
named,  studied  law,  and  was  one  of  the  most  learn- 
ed, and  most  eminent  lawyers  of  his  time.  He  was  a 
good  general  scholar ;  and  his  company  was  courted 
by  young  men  of  literary  taste.  With  all  branches 
of  knowledge,  connected  with  his  profession,  he 
was  well  versed.  He  had  studied  the  constitution 
and  history  of  England,  and  the  two  charters  of 
Massachusetts,  and  the  nature  of  the  government 
arising  from  these  charters.  He  was,  therefore, 
among  the  first  to  detect  the  encroachments  of  the 
British  ministry  on  the  rights  of  the  people  in  the 
province,  and  to  point  out  the  danger  to  civil  liberty, 
-and  of  the  arbitrary  principles  and  measures  of 
1763,  and  afterwards.  He  was  an  ardent  patriot ; 
but  firm,  temperate,  and  intelligent ;  no  one  more  so. 
He  published  some  political  essays,  in  1764  or  '65, 
a  short  time  before  his  death,  shewing  the  great  in- 
justice of  certain  measures,  then  recently  adopted 
by  the  administration  in  England,  towards  the 
Colonies ;  particularly,  the  stationing  of  troops  in 
the  province,  in  a  time  of  peacd.  Mr.  Thacher  died 
in  1765,  when  one  of  the  representatives  for  Boston, 
in  the  General  Court.  He  was  highly  esteemed  for 
his  private,  as  well  as  his  public  virtues.  His  piety 
was  as  conspicious  as  his  patriotism.  His  death 
was  deeply  lamented  as  a  great  public  loss. 

THACHER,  Rev.  PETER  D.  D.  was  a  son  of 
Oxenbridge  Thacher,  Esq.,  last  noticed.  He  re- 
ceived his  public  education  in  Harvard  College,  with 
the  class  of  1769,  at  a  very  early  age ;  and  soon 
after  was  ordained  in  the  ministry,  at  Maiden ; 


a 


THOMAS   THACHKR. 


391 


grand- 
son of 
e  mer- 
n.    He 

Allege, 
er,  last 
t  learn- 
e  wasa 
courted 
ranches 
ion,  he 
titution 
rters  of 
irnment 
erefore, 
of  the 
in  the 
liberty, 
lures  of 
patriot ; 
uore  so. 
:  or  '65, 
eat  in- 
adopted 
rds  the 
oops  in 
\er  died 
Boston, 
ned  for 
is  piety 
death 

31  son  of 
He  re- 
;e,  with 
id  soon 
lalden  • 


when  he  was  only  twenty.  He  had  very  popular 
talents,  and  as  a  pulpit  orator  was  acceptable  to  all 
classes  of  people.  His  discourses  were  truly  evan- 
gelical ;  but  practical  as  well  as  doctrinal.  Indeed 
he  preached  the  gospel,  without  dwelling  on  specu- 
lative or  dogmatical  theology.  His  aim  seemed  to 
be,  to  show  the  evil  and  misery  of  sin,  and  the 
moral  beauty  and  fitness,  and  the  happiness  of  true 
religion ;  and  he  would  persuade  the  young  particu- 
larly, "  that  the  ways  of  wisdom  are  the  ways  of 
pleasantness,  and  that  all  her  paths  are  peace." 
Soon  after  the  death  of  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Cooper,  in 
1783,  pastor  of  the  Church  and  Society  in  Brattle 
square,  Boston,  Dr.  Thatcher  was  invited  to  take 
the  pastoral  charge  of  that  people  :  and  was  install- 
ed in  1784.  He  remained  their  minister  till  his 
death,  in  1802.  He  was  an  impressive  speaker,  and 
a  kind,  affectionate  pastor;  and,  as  a  companion 
and  friend,  greatly  endeared  to  many.  The  publi- 
cations of  Dr.  Thacher  were  numerous.  In  March, 
1776,  he  delivered  an  oration,  before  a  large  number 
of  the  citizens  of  Boston,  who  were  then  residing  at 
Cambridge,  Watertown,  and  vicinity;  which  was 
published.  He  preached  often  on  public  occasions ; 
and  most  of  his  discourses  passed  through  the 
press.  His  funeral  sermons  were  highly  appropri- 
ate, and  may  be  now  read  with  satisfaction  and 
profit.  Dr.  Thacher  was  an  original,  and  efficient 
member  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Massachusetts ; 
a  member  of  the  American  Academy  of  Arts  and 
Sciences ;  and  also  a  member,  and  several  years  the 
secretary  of  the  Society  for  Propagating  the  Qospel 
among  the  Indians  and  others,  in  North  America, 
formed  in  1787. 

THACHER,  Rbv.  THOMAS  a  brother  of  the 
last  named,  received  his  education  in  Harvard  Col- 
lege, and  was  graduated  in  1776.     He  settled  in  a 


398 


SAMDIL    C'THACBXR. 


parish  in  Dedham,  near  Boston ;  and  continued  the 
pastor  of  the  Church  and  Society  there  till  his  death, 
19  1810.  Mr.  Thacher  had  superior  talents,  and 
much  originality  of  intellectual  character.  He  was 
deemed  eccentric  and  singular  in  his  deportment 
But  to  his  friends,  who  knew  the  simplicity  and 
purity  of  his  views,  his  love  of  truth,  and  his  fear- 
less independence,  he  was  an  object  of  great  regard 
and  esteem.  His  style  was  peculiar ;  but  per^icu- 
ous  and  significant.  His  thoughts  were  often  novel 
and  original,  but  clothed  in  good  language,  though 
evidently  not  studied.  Mr.  Thacher  delivered  the 
lecture  on  the  Dudley  foundation ;  which  was  pub- 
lished; and  several  other  of  his  occasional  dis- 
courses were  also  printed. 

THACHER,  Rev.  SAMUEL  COOPER  a  son  of 
Rev.  Dr.  Peter  Thacher,  had  his  public  education 
in  Harvard  College,  where  he  was  graduated  in 
1804.  He  then  had  the  reputation  of  a  good  scholar. 
And  after  he  left  the  university,  his  pursuits  were 
exclusively  literary ;  and  his  character,  as  a  critical 
and  betieS'lettres  scholar,  was  not  inferior  to  aqy 
of  his  contemporaries.  As  a  writer,  his  talents  and 
his  taste  were  of  the  first  order.  In  1811,  he  was 
ordained  the  pastor  of  the  New  South  Church  in 
Boston,  as  successor  of  the  learned  and  eloquent 
Dr.  Kirkland.  After  a  few  years,  the  health  of 
Mr.  Thacher  declined,  and  he  visited  England,  in 
search  of  health.  It  was  hoped,  that  a  suspension 
of  his  stated  studies  and  labors^  a  sea  voyage,  and 
a  change  of  climate,  would  effect  his  restoration  to 
wonted  strength.  But  the  result  was  far  otherwise. 
He  lingered  a  few  months  after  his  arrival,  when  he 
fell  a  victim  to  the  insidious  disease,  viiich  had 
been  some  time  making  advances  on  his  constitution. 
The  death  of  few  young  men  has  been  so  deeply 
lamented.    He  was  a  man  of  great  promise.    He 


JOHN   TffOMAS. 


393 


was  constantly  increasing  his  stock  of  useful  knowl- 
edge. His  acquirements  as  a  biblical  critic,  as  a 
theologian,  and  his  thirst  of  higher  attainments  in 
mental  philosophy,  which  must  have  been  followed 
by  valuable  results  to  the  cause  of  rational  religion, 
made  him  an  object  of  peculiar  interest  to  the  com- 
munity, to  which  he  belonged  :  and  his  premature 
death  was  contemplated  as  no  common  loss. 

THOMAS,  General  JOHN  was  a  native  of  Ply- 
mouth, and  received  as-  good  a  medical  education  as 
the  country  afforded  one  hundred  years  ago.  He 
passed  sometime  in  the  war  of  1766-1762 ;  and  had 
the  commission  of  Colonel  in  a  division  of  the  pro- 
vincial troops  under  Major-General  John  Winslow  of 
Plymouth' colony.  After  the  peace  of  1763,  he  re- 
sumed the  practice  of  physic.  He  had  the  reputa- 
tion of  an  active  and  judicious  officer;  equally  reso- 
lute and  prudent.  When  the  dispute  with  England 
assumed  a  serious  aspect,  in  1770,  he  was  found  on 
the  side  of  the  colonies,  in  their  claims  of  the  right 
to  legislate  on  the  subject  of  taxes  and  other  internal 
concerns,  as  had  been  done  before  that  period;  but 
which  the  British  ministry  now  denied,  by  making 
laws  to  raise  a  revenue  in  the  colony,  and  for  aU 
other  purposes^  at  their  pleasure.  Colonel  Thomas 
was  a  delegate  to  the  convention  in  the  county  of 
Plymouth,  September  1774 ;  of  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress for  Massachusetts,  which  met  at  Concord,  in 
October  of  that  year,  and  of  that  of  February  1775. 
At  the  first  Congress  he  was  chosen  a  general  officer ; 
aiid  raised  a  regiment  in  April  and  May  following, 
soon  after  the  afiO&ir  at  Lexington  and  Concord.  With 
others  from  the  county  of  Plymouth,  and  from  most 
other  parts  of  the  Province,  he  promptly  repaired  to 
Roxbury,  and  there  remained  for  several  months, 
while  General  Ward  was  at  Cambridge,  which  was 
considered  the  head  quarters  of  the  provincial  army. 


h 


894 


JOSHUA  THOMAS. 


"  In  May  1775,  he  was  appointed  Lieutenant-General; 
bm  had  that  rank  only  a  short  lime.  For  when 
General  Washington  arrived  at  Cambridge,  July  3, 
1775,  and  took  command  of  all  the  troops  in  that 
▼ioinity,  they  were  considered  as  a  continental  army, 
and  a  new  organization  took  place.  Soon  after 
Washington  took  command  at  Cambridge,  he  called 

'  a  council  of  war,  to  consider  the  expediency  of  aug- 
menting the  army.  He  says,  there  were  not  more 
than  nine  thousand  men  fit  for  duty,  though  it  had 

'  been  said,  there  were  fourteen  thousand.  This 
council  consisted  of  Generals  Ward,  Lee,  Putnam, 
Thomas,  Heath,  Green,  and  Gates.  They  advised 
that  it  was  important  to  have  the  army  increased  to 

'  twenty  thousand.  Thomas  was  soon  after  appointed 
a  Brigadier-General  by  the  Continental  Congress. 
He  had  the  direction  and  command  on  Dorchester 
Heights,  March  1776 ;  which  obliged  the  British  to 
abandon  Boston.  In  April  1776,  General  Thomas 
was  sent  against  Canada  with  several  regiments ;  and 
proceeded  far  beyond  Montreal ;  but  the  men  were 
sick,  and  many  died ;  which  induced  him  to  fall 
back.  He  also  took  the  small  pox,  then  prevailing, 
and  fell  its  victim.  He  was  esteemed  as  a  prudent, 
and  cautious  commander ;  and  was  careful  for  the 
lives  and  health  of  his  men.  When  at  Roxbury, 
he  ordered  that  particular  attention  be  given  to  the 
comfort  and  health  of  the  troops. 

THOMAS,  Hon.  JOSHUA  was  bom  in  Plymouth, 
and  his  father  was  a  respectable  physician  in  that 
town,  descended  from  William  Thomas,  who  came 
to  Plymouth  Colony  in  1630,  and  settled  in  Marsh- 
field,  near  his  friend.  Governor  Winslow.  Mr. 
Thomas  received  his  public  education  in  Harvard 
College,  with  the  class  of  1772.  He  early  discovered 
his  attachment  to  the  interests  of  civil  liberty,  and 
the  cause  of  the  colonies,  then  oppressed  by  the 


EDMUND  TIOWBRIDGI. 


395 


jleneral; 
r  when 
July  3, 
in  that 
tl  army, 
>n  after 
,e  called 
of  aug- 
ot  more 

it  had 
This 
Putnam, 
advised 
eased  to 
^pointed 
ongress. 
rcnester 
ritish  to 
Thomas 
ts;  and 
m  were 

to  fall 
vailing, 
)rudent, 

for  the 
oxbury, 
[1  to  the 


mouth, 
in  that 
10  came 
Marsh- 
.  Mr. 
arvard 
:overed 
ty,  and 
by  the 


British  administration.  He  was  an  aid  to  General 
Thomas,  in  May  1775,  and  after — when  he  com- 
manded the  troops  assembled  and  encamped  at  Roz- 
bury.  And  when  General  Thomas  marcned  asainst 
Canada,  in  1776,  Major  Thomas  accompanied  him 
as  one  of  his  military  family ;  but  on  the  death  of 
the  former,  he  returned  to  Plymouth,  and  engaged 
in  the  study^  of  the  law.  In  1781,  he  was  chosen  a 
representative  to  the  General  Court,  from  his  native 
town ;  and  in  1784,  had  a  seat  at  the  Senate  Board. 
On  the  death  of  Hon.  Joseph  Gushing,  of  Hanover, 
he  was  appointed  Judge  of  Probate  for  FlymouUi 
County;  and  retained  that  office  till  his  death,  in 
January  1821,  at  the  age  of  seventy.  In  all  the 
offices  and  trusts  he  held.  Judge  Thomas  was  atten- 
tive and  faithful.  He  was  just  and  honorable  in  his  / 
practice  as  an  attorney,  and  attentive,  courteous  and 
faithful  as  a  Judge  of  Probate,  when  he  had  to  ad* 
vise  and  to  decide  for  the  ignoranl  and  the  poor,  for 
the  widow  and  the  orphan.  Judge  Thomas  was  a 
member  of  the  Hartford  Convention,  December  1814 ; 
an  honorable  and  patriotic  assembly  to  consult  for 
the  common  welfare,  in  a  constitutional  way ;  and 
to  urge  a  spirit  of  peace  on  the  national  councils. 

TROWBRIDGE,  Hon.  EDMUND  whose  name 
was  changed  from  Gofie,  had  his  public  education 
in  Harvard  College,  with  the  class  of  1728.  He 
studied  law,  and  rose  to  eminence  in  the  profession. 
He  was  reputed  one  of  the  ablest  lawyers  of  his 
time.  There  were  then  very  few  well  educated  at- 
tomies  in  the  province.  He  held  the  important  office 
of  the  king's  attorney  for  the  province,  for  several 
years  before  1767,  when  he  was  appointed  a  justice 
of  the  Superior  Court  of  Judicature,  and  remained 
on  the  bench  till  1774.  At  that  time,  Mr.  Trow- 
bridge and  William  Gushing  were  the  only  two  jus- 
tices of  that  court  who  had  been  of  the  legal  pro- 


896 


JONATHAN  T1UMB1TLL. 


fession.  Neither  Oliver,  chief  justice,  nor  Foster 
Hutchinson,  then  one  of  the  justices,  were  educated 
or  practising  lawyers.  In  the  trial  of  Capt.  Preston 
ana  his  men,  for  firing  on  the  people  in  State  street, 
Boston,  on  the  evening  of  the  5tn  of  March,  1770, 
when  several  were  killed  or  mortally  wounded, 
Trowbridge  charged  the  jurors  at  length,  and  the 
other  justices  acquiesced  in  his  statement  and 
opinions.  Preston  and  all  his  men  but  two  were  ac- 
quitted of  the  charge,  which  was  for  murder^ — ^two  of 
the  men  were  convicted  of  manslaughter.  Many  of 
the  citizens  thought  the  firing  not  necessary  for  self- 
defence,  and  therefore  disapproved  of  the  verdict. 
But  others  considered  the  attack  made  on  the  guard 
and  the  soldiers,  by  snow-balls  and  pieces  of  ice,  was 
a  justification  for  firing.  The  inhabitants  intended 
no  injury,  certainly  not  the  death  of  the  soldiers ; 
and  the  latter  provoked  the  attack  made  on  them, 
by  repeated  previous  assaults,  for  three  days  and 
evenings  successively.  Judge  Trowbridge  favored 
the  cause  of  the  parent  government,  but  did  not  leave 
the  province.  He  survived  to  the  age  of  about  ninety 
years. 

TRUMBULL,  Hon.  JONATHAN  LL.  D.,  was 
a  native  of  Lebanon,  Connecticut,  and  received  his 
education  in  Harvai4  College,  with  the  class  of  1727. 
He  studied  theology  sometime,  and  preached  for  a 
few  years ;  but  was  not  settled  in  the  ministry.  His 
fellow  citizens  elected  him  to  office  in  the  civil  gov- 
ernment of  that  Province,  when  he  was  quite  a  young 
.  man :  and  he  was  retained  in  the  public  service  more 
than  fifty  years.  Mr.  Trumbull  was  first  chosen 
Governor  in  1769 ;  and  was  annually  elected  to  that 
place  until  he  declined  in  1784.  He  died  the  year 
following,  at  the  advanced  age  of  seventy-five.  He 
was  respectable  for  general  learning,  as  well  as  for 
political  knowledge.    On  critical  occasions,  he  dis- 


'**MtUIJilllJJM«i<>l»feMiU,8i 


JONATHAN  TBUMBULL. 


397 


Foster 
ducated 
Preiton 
e  street, 
ii,  1770, 
ounded, 
Bind  the 
3nt  and 
xrere  ac- 
— two  of 
many  of 
for  self- 
verdict, 
e  guard 
ice,  was 
ntended 
soldiers ; 
n  them, 
iys  and 
favored 
lot  leave 
It  ninety 


D.,  was 
ived  his 
of  1727. 
id  for  a 
y.  His 
ivil  gov- 
a  young 
ice  more 

chosen 
dI  to  that 
he  year 
ve.  He 
1  as  for 

he  dis- 


played good  judgment  and  decision ;  and  yet  was 
uncommonly  popular  during  his  whole  administra- 
tration  of  the  government.    Few  men  were  so  well 
qualified  to  be  the  chief  magistrate  of  a  republic ;  to 
be  the  ruler  of  an  industrious,  sober,  and  moral  com- 
munity.    He  did  not  bear  the  sword  of  justice  in 
vain ;  nor  did  he  exercise  his  authority  except  for  the 
public  welfare  and  peace.     In  1775,  Governor  Trum- 
bull took  a  very  decided  stand  with  the  Whigs  of 
Massachusetts,  and  of  the  other  colonies,  in  delence 
of  the  liberties  of  the  country ;  for  he  was  fully  sat- 
isfied, as  he  publicly  declared,  that  further  petitions 
and  remonstrances  would  be  in  vam,  and  that  the 
civil  rights  of  the  people  could  be  preserved  only  by 
a  resort  to  arms.    Governor  Trumbull  had  much  of 
the  principles  and  spirit  of  the  fathers  of  New  Eng- 
land.    His  daily  conduct  gave  indications  of  sincere 
piety,  and  of  a  firm  belief  in  the  great  doctrines  of 
the  christian  revelation.     He  was  a  friend  to  learning, 
and  an  example  of  all  the  moral  and  social  virtues. 
Governor  Hutchinson  was  in  the  same  class  with 
Gov.  Trumbull :  and  for  many  years  they  acted  in 
unison  and  concert  as  public  men ;  but  in  1765,  and 
afterwards,    Mr.   Hutchinson  became  an  apologist 
for  the  arbitrary  and  oppressive  measures  of  the 
British  ministry ;  was  highly  obnoxious  to  the  good 
people  of  New  England ;  and  was  compelled  to  leave 
his  native  country  to  avoid  the  reproaches  and  indig- 
nation of  an  abused  and  injured  people.     And  yet, 
as  a  private  character,  Mr.  Hutchinson  was  much 
respected  and  esteemed. 

TRUMBULL,  Hon.  JONATHAN  LL.  D.,  a 
son  of  Gov.  Trumbull,  noticed  in  the  preceding  arti- 
cle, received  his  public  education  in  Harvard  College, 
with  the  class  of  1759.  Mr.  Trumbull  imbibed  the 
political  opinions  of  his  father ;  and  early  engaged  in 
the  cause  of  civil  liberty,  and  of  the  rights  of  the 
34 


398 


JOIN  TUCKII. 


colonies.  During  p«rt  of  the  war,  he  wae  a  member 
of  the  military  family  of  General  Washington |  aa 
was  his  younger  brother  John  also,  who  still  survives, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-seven,  highly  esteemed  both  for 
his  public  and  private  virtues.  Bir.  Trumbull  was  a 
Representative  in  Congress  from  Connecticut,  in  1792 
and  1793 ;  and  in  1795  was  chosen  a  member  of  the 
Senate  of  the  United  States.  In  1797,  he  was  elected 
Governor  of  his  native  State.  He  held  the  office  by 
annual  elections,  ^ntil  his  death  in  1809.  In  all 
these  responsible  stations,  he  co'.iducted  with^  neat 
wisdom  and  propriety.  His  yjublic  spirit,  and  his 
regard  for  the  true  interests  and  welfare  of  the  nation, 
were  undoubted.  He  always  appeared  superior  to 
mere  party  views,  and  to  seek  the  general  prosperity. 
So  far  as  it  could  be  justly  said,  there  were  political 

Sarties  in  the  country,  as  early  as  1794,  and  1798. 
Ir.  Trumbull  was  of  that  party  which  gave  its  sup- 
port to  the  measures  of  Washington.  The  members 
of  Congress  from  the  New  England  States,  at  that 
period,  with  very  few  exceptions,  were  friends  of  the 
administration  of  that  rare  patriot  and  prudent  states- 
man. In  his  public  character  he  resembled  his  ven- 
erated parent ;  prudent,  judicious,  faithful ;  and  in 
private  life,  like  him  also,  he  was  an  example  of  all 
the  social  virtues.  It  is  a  great  error  to  expect  fidel- 
ity in  a  public  man,  if  his  private  character  is  stained 
with  gross  and  habitual  immoralities. 

TUCKER,  Rev.  JOHN  D.  D.  was  a  graduate 
of  Harvard  College,  in  1741 ;  and  afterwards  settled 
in  the  Christian  ministry  over  the  first  parish  in 
Newbury.  He  was  early  distinguished  among  his 
clerical  brethren,  for  correct  and  able  compositions ; 
and  for  his  impressive  manner  as  a  pulpit  orator. 
His  discourses  were  well  studied,  and  would  bear 
critical  examination  on  the  score  of  argument  and 
method.     In  the  dispute  which  prevailed  among  the 


ei 


JOBN  TUOEUL 


399 


clergy,  after  Mr.  Whitfield's  visit  to  New  Enaland, 
about  the  middle  of  the  last  century,  Dr.  'I  ucker 
sometimes  engaged ;  and  some  of  his  writings  on 
that  occasion  were  allowed  to  indicate  good  talents, 
though  many  were  not  convinced  by  them.  The 
controversy  was,  in  a  great  measure,  between  those 
who  adopted  the  CaTvinistic,  and  those  who  em- 
braced the  Arminian  system.  But  yet  some  who 
Erofessed  to  be  Calvinists,  opposed  Whitfield  and 
is  followers,  chiefly  for  his  entliusiasm  and  cen- 
soriousness.  They  were  opposed  to  his  desire  and 
practice  to  get  up  an  excitement ;  as  they  believed 
It  would  not  permanently  promote  the  cause  of  piety 
and  righteousness.  But  irost  of  his  opposers  were 
of  the  Arminian  school.  Dr.  Tucker  belonged  to 
the  latter  class  of  theologians.  But  when  he  enter- 
ed the  lists  as  a  disputant,  he  did  not  lose  his  tem- 
per, nor  contend  with  bitterness,  as  some  did  at  that 
period,  on  both  sides  of  the  question.  Dr.  Tucker 
was  accused  of  heresy  by  some  of  his  Church,  and 
a  council  was  called  to  consider  the  validity  ot  the 
charge.  The  disafiected  aimed  to  show,  that  he 
departed  from  certain  points  of  Calvinism,  but  they 
dia  not  convict  him  of  denying  or  opposing  any 
clear  doctrine  of  the  Scriptures.  He  therefore  re- 
mained in  his  pastoral  oflice  over  the  Church ;  but 
some  members  left  him,  and  joined  another  religious 
society  in  the  vicinity.  Most  of  the  ministers  of  the 
Merrimac  Association,  in  his  time,  1750-1790, 
embracing  Haverhill,  Bradford,  Salisbury,  New- 
bury, and  Newburyport,  were  in  sentiment  with  Dr. 
Tucker.  The  publications  of  Dr.  Tucker,  were  a 
sermon  at  the  General  Election,  in  1770 — a  dis- 
course at  the  Dudleyan  lecture,  four  sermons  on  doc-  * 
trinal  points  in  theology,  and  several  ordination  and 
funeral  discourses.  He  was  highly  esteemed  by 
those  who  were  his  intimate  acquaintance ;  and  in 
his  family  was  an  example  of  sobriety,  mildness, 
and  all  the  parental  virtues. 


I 


400 


J.   TUCKBRMAN. — W.   TUDOR. 


TUCKERMAN,  Rev.  JOSEPH  D.  D.  was  a 
native  of  Boston,  and  received  his  education  in 
Harvard  College,'  wher^  he  was  graduated,  in  1798. 
He  studied  theology,  and  was  ordained  over  the 
Congregational  Church  and  Society  in  that  place, 
soon  after  the  decease  of  Rev.  Dr.  Payson.  Mr. 
Tuckerman  continued  the  pastor  of  that  society, 
about  twenty  years,  and  discharged  all  his  duties, 
as  a  religious  teacher  and  guide,  with  fidelity,  and 
in  the  exercise  of  a  truly  affectionate  and  Christian 
spirit.  But  his  health  was  declining,  and  by  advice 
of  friends  he  visited  Europe.  Soon  after  his  re- 
turn, he  removed  into  Boston,  and  generously  de- 
voted himself,  as  his  feeble  health  would  admit,  to 
visit  the  poor,  who  attended  no  place  of  worship,  as 
a  spiritual  instructor.  He  was  thus  employed  for 
ten  or  twelve  years ;  and  the  good  effected  by  his 
benevolent  labors,  in  a  moral  and  religious  view, 
cannot  be  easily  estimated.  By  his  instructions  and 
admonitions,  in  this  way,  the  ignorant  were  in- 
structed in  their  religious  duties,  the  thoughtless  to 
consider  the  importance  and  value  of  a  Christian 
spirit;  the  forsaken  and  degraded,  to  reflect  on  the 
dignity  of  virtue,  and  to  turn  their  feet  into  its 
pleasant  paths.  A  great  change  was  soon  produced 
in  the  habits  of  the  poorer  classes,  by  these  kind 
efforts  of  Dr.  Tuckerman.  Their  children  were 
sent  to  school,  or  taught  to  read  at  home.  For  he 
furnished  books  to  families  which  were  not  able  to 
purchase  them.  But  the  health  of  Dr.  Tuckerman 
declined;  and  he  again  visited  Europe,  where  he 
died  in  1840,  at  the  age  of  sixty-two.  ' 

TUDOR,  WILLIAM  Jr.  Esq.  was  a  son  of  Hon. 
William  Tudor,  a  gentleman  who  filled  several  import- 
ant public  ofiices,  and  was  much  esteemed  for  his  lite- 
rary taste  and  acquirements.  The  father  was  grad- 
uated in  Harvard  College,  with  the  class  of  1769 — 
studied  law  with  Mr.  Adams,  and  was  in  the  prac- 


■M  WILLIAM  TUDOR. 


401 


tice  when  the  war  of  1775  began.  He  was  a  Lieut. 
Colonel  in  that  war,  for  nearly  three  years,  and 
sometime  Judge  Advocate.  He  returned  to  the  prac- 
tice of  the  law  in  1780;  and  was  a  member  of  the 
House  and  of  the  Senate  of  Massachusetts,  and  after- 
wards Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth.  He  was 
also  an  original  member  of  the  Massachusetts  His- 
torical Society.  Mr.  Tudor,  the  younger,  was  edu- 
cated in  Harvard  College,  and  had  his  first  degree 
in  '96.  He  was  distinguished  as  a  scholar  while  at 
the  university.  He  also  chose  the  legal  profession, 
and  was  some  years  in  the  practice  of  law  in  Boston. 
But  fae  did  not  confine  himself  to  the  business  of  an 
attorney;  he  cultivated  polite  literature  and  belles 
leitres  above  most  of  the  publicly  educated  men  of 
his  time.  Far  the  greater  portion  of  those  devoted 
to  legal  pursuits,  neglect  other  studies,  and  make  far 
less  advances  as  general  scholars,  than  is  commend- 
able. Mr.  Tudor  was  .well  acquainted  not  only 
with  history,  but  with  all  the  good  treatises  on 
ethics,  and  on  poetry,  and  with  the  best  English 
writers  of  the  last  century.  He  thus  acquired  a 
good  style  of  writing ;  and  his  progress  in  polite  lit- 
erature was  equal  to  that  made  by  any  individual 
scholar  who  wrote  thirty  years  ago.  He  was  several 
years  a  member  of  a  literary  club,  when  he  often 
met  such  men  as  Dr.  Kirkland,  Rev.  W.  Emerson, 
and  Rev.  Mr.  Buckminster,  for  his  companions. 
The  Literary  Review,  which  is  now  called  the  North 
American,  is  chiefly  indebted  to  his  exertions  for  its 
origin,  and  for  the  ability  with  which  it  was  early 
conducted.  To  give  a  good  beginning  to  such  a 
work,  requires  exertion,  information,  and  literary 
zeal.  The  principal  work  of  Mr.  Tudor  was  the 
Life  of  James  Otis,  the  celebrated  patriot,  scholar 
and  orator,  of  that  period  of  uncommon  excitement, 
in  1760-70.  The  work  discovers  great  diligence 
and  research,  and  a  happy  talent  in  delineating  the 
34» 


402 


C.  TUFTS — C,  TURNER. 


characters  of  some  of  the  principal  men  of  that 
memorable  period,  as  well  as  of  Mr.  Otis.  Mr. 
Tudor  was  employed  as  a  diplomatic  character  by 
President  J.  Q.  Adams,  in  1825,  to  South  America. 
He  had  an  appointment  as  Charge  d' Affaires  in 
South  America,  and  died  at  Rio  de  Janeiro,  in  1830, 
at  the  age  of  fifty-one.  Had  he  lived,  he  would 
probably  have  risen  higher  in  the  ranks  of  the  diplo- 
matic corps.  ; 

TUFTS,  Hon.  COTTON    M.  D.  A.  A.  S.  was 

a  native  of  Medford,  and  received  his  public  educa- 
tion in  Harvard  College,  with  the  class  of  1749. 
He  entered  the  medical  profession,  and  wj^is  one  of 
the  most  eminent  physicians  in  the  State.  He 
was  an  original  member  of  the  Massachusetts  Med- 
ical Society,  formed  in  1781,  and  some  time  the 
president ;  a  proof  that  he  was  at  the  head  of  the 
profession.  He  also  engaged  in  the  public  political 
concerns  of  the  Commonwealth,  on  various  occa- 
sions. For  several  years  he  had  a  seat  in  the  Sen- 
ate, and  at  the  Council  Board.  He  first  took  part  in 
public  affairs,  in  the  year  1780,  when  he  was  elected 
a  representative.   He  died  in  1816 :  aged  eighty-iive. 


-|3f. 


:>T. 


TURNER,  Rev.  and  Hon.  CHARLES  was  a  na- 
tive of  Scituate,  in  the  county  of  Plymouth,  and  re- 
ceived an  education  in  Harvard  College,  with  the 
class  of  1752.  He  studied  theplogy,  and  was  or- 
dained pastor  of  the  church  and  society  in  Duxbury, 
in  that  county.  He  continued  in  the  ministry  there 
until  1775,  when  he  requested  and  received  a  dis- 
mission, but  with  mutual  good  feelings ;  and  removed 
to  a  farm  in  Scituate.  His  mental  powers  ^  were 
superior  to  those  with  which  most  men  are  endowed ; 
and  he  was  esteemed  as  an  able  divine,  and  useful, 
practical  preacher ;  but  he  rejected  the  peculiar 
tenets  of  the  Calvinistic  creed.    Several  of  his  occa- 


JOHN  TYNO. 


403 


sional  sermons  were  published— one  delivered  on  the 
day  of  general  election  ;  and  one  on  the  anniversary 
of  the  landing  of  the  pilgrim  fathers  at  Plymouth. 
Mr.  Turner  ranked  among  the  most  decided  and 
zealous  whigs  of  1775 ;  and  was  particularly  inti- 
mate with  that  distinguished  patriot  Samuel  Adams. 
He  was  a  republican  and  a  puritan,  and  he  consid- 
ered that  the  courtiers  and  the  prelates  in  England 
had  conspired  to  deprive  the  people  of  Massachusetts 
bothof  their  civil  and  religious  liberty.  He  had  a  great 
dread  of  the  power  of  the  tory  bishops,  as  well  as  of 
the  tory  dukes  and  earls.  In  ]  776,  Mr.  Turner  was 
chosen  a  member  of  the  General  Court,  and  several 
years  had  a  seat  in  the  Senate,  as  a  member  from 
Plymouth  county.  He  removed  into  the  county  of 
Cumberland,  in  Maine,  where  he  had  a  tract  of  land, 
and  a  son,  and  died  there,  in  1796,  ?t  an  advanced 
age. 

TYNG,  Hon.  JOHN  was  many  years,  after  he 
reached  the  meridian  of  life,  an  inhabitant  of  Dun- 
stable, in  the  county  of  Middlesex.  He  received  his 
public  education  in  Harvard  College,  and  took  his 
first  d,egree  in  1725.  He  resided  sometime  in  Bos- 
ton, and  was  in  business  there,  as  a  merchant.  He 
also  had  a  seat  in  the  General  Court,  as  a  representa- 
tive for  that  town,  in  1748,  and  several  years  after. 
Mr.  Tyng  was  of  an  ancient  and  respectable  family. 
His  ancestor,  Edward  Tyng,  came  to  Massachusetts 
at  an  early  period,  though  not  with  the  first  com- 
pany, and  settled  at  Dunstable ;  where  he  died  in 
1680.  He  was  often  in  public  stations ;  and  so  also 
was  his  son,  and  his  grandson,  the  father  of  Judge 
Tyng.  From  the  time  of  Edward,  the  family  pos- 
sessed the  estate  at  Dunstable,  now  Tyngsborough, 
for  five  generations,  and  till  about  1800.  Mr.  Tyng 
was  sometime  chief  justice  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  for  the  county  of  Middlesex ;  even  as  late  as 


404 


JOHN  TTNO. 


1785,  when  he  was  nearly  eighty  years  of  age. 
While  some  of  the  family,  of  another  branch,  favored 
the  British  cause  in  1775,  Judge  Tyng  supported 
the  claims  of  the  colonies  to  the  civil  rights  which 
they  so  bravely  asserted,  at  that  memorable  period. 
He  was  a  delegate  from  Dunstable  to  the  several 
provincial  Congresses,  October  1774,  February  1775, 
and  May  1775 — and  appears  to  have  been  an  active 
member,  as  he  was  on  various  important  commit- 
tees, and  often  the  chairman.  He  was  in  some  re- 
spects an  eccentric  character ;  but  the  important 
offices  which  he  held,  show  that  he  had  the  esteem 
of  the  public,  and  had  good  judgment,  intelligence 
and  probity.  He  died  in  1797,  at  the  advanced  age 
of  ninety-three.    « 


■•w. 


V; 


_  'Ufi  '?**»?  ift  ;-'*Ajr  il^.^'J^;  ■  ^  .jiCa^- 


i\i  '{iii.*frucy<»y  .livt  si„^i*I 


yi-iif. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


l6t 


"s    \ 


VANE,  Sir  HENRY  was  in  the  colony  of  Mas- 
sachusetts about  two  years,  from  1635  to  1637.  He 
arrived  in  the  year  1635,  and  returned  to  England 
in  1637.  As  he  was  a  friend  to  the  puritans,  and  to 
republicans,  and  more  still  perhaps,  as  he  was  a 
nobleman,  he  was  elected  Governor  for  1636,  in  the 
place  of  Winthrop,  who  did  not  decline,  though  not 
anxious  for  the  office.  Sir  Henry  was  not  destitute 
of  ambition ;  and  he  courted  the  public  applause  and 
admiration.  In  1637,  he  was  a  candidate  for  Gov- 
ernor ;  but  Winthrop  was  elected.  Vane  was  mor- 
tified, and  manifested  his  chagrin,  by  a  distant  and 
cold  demeanor  towards  Winthrop.  He  expected  the 
popular  favor,  to  the  neglect  of  the  former  Governor. 
But  there  was  too  much  good  sense  in  the  people, 
to  prefer  a  young  stranger,  though  bearing  a  noble 
title,  to  one  who  had  been  tried,  and  found  worthy  of 
their  confidence,  by  his  wisdom,  prudence,  and  up- 
rightness. It  is  not  very  honorable  to  the  memory 
of  the  young  nobleman,  that  he  consented  to  be  a  rival 
candidate  to  Winthrop,  for  the  office  of  chief  magis- 
trate— and  there  is  some  reason  for  the  supposition, 
that  he  supported  the  party  of  enthusiasts  and  anti- 
nomians  of  that  time,  with  a  view  to  the  gratification 
of  his  ambitious  desire  of  being  at  the  head  of  the 


406 


JAMES  VARNUM. 


government.  His  friends  may  justly  claim  for  him 
the  praise  of  moral  resolution  and  heroism,  when  he 
suffered  in  England  under  Charles  II :  but  it  will  be 
difficult  to  find  any  good  apology  for  him,  in  setting 
himself  up  in  opposition  to  Governor  Winthrop  in 
Massachusetts. 

VARNUM,  Hon.  JAMES  MITCHELL  was  born 
in  Dracut,  and  State  of  Massachusetts ;  he  received 
his  public  education  in  the  college  of  Rhode  Island, 
and  was  graduated  in  that  seminary,  in  1769.  He 
studied  law,  and  began  the  practice  in  Rhode  Island, 
and  very  soon  became  eminent  in  his  profession.  He 
ha'd  talents  and  learning ;  and  as  a  writer  and 
speaker,  few  young  men  were  equal  to  him.  He  en- 
tered the  American  army,  as  an  officer,  soon  after 
the  war  commenced  ;  the  second  year  was  promoted 
to  the  rank  of  Brigadier,  and  afterwards  of  Major 
General,  in  the  continental  service.  Probably  no 
one  of  his  age  had  a  higher  character  as  a  brave  and 
intelligent  officer.  He  was  on  Rhode  Island  in  1778, 
when  Major-General  Sullivan  was  sent  there  with  a 
large  army  to  drive  the  British  troops  from  that 
Island — John  Hancock,  as  Major-General  of  the 
militia  from  Massachusetts,  Major-General  Lafayette, 
and  Major-General  Greene,  were  also  in  that  expe« 
dition.  On  several  occasions  of  alarm  and  danger, 
General  Yarnum  distinguished  himself  for  valor  and 
promptness.  He  resigned  his  military  office  in  1780 ; 
and  in  1781-2,  was  a  member  of  Congress  from 
Rhode  Island.  In  1786,  he  accompanied  those  who 
made  a  settlement  on  theOhio  river,  and  gave  it  the 
name  of  Marietta.  General  Rufus  Putnam,  of  Wor- 
cester county,  was  one  of  the  principal  men  of  that  , 
company  ;  and  several  others,  who  had  been  officers 
in  the  Revolutionary  army,  were  among  them.  In 
1787,  General  Yarnum  was  appointed  by  Congress 
a  judge  of  the  North  West  Territory,  within  which 


JOSEPH  B.  TARNUM. 


407 


the  settlement  at  Marietta  was  included.  On  the 
4th  of  July,  1788,  the  anniversary  of  American  Inde- 
pendence, he  delivered  an  oration  by  the  request  of 
the  citizens  of  that  place,  which  was  published.  For 
pertinency  and  richness  of  sentiment,  apt  illustrations 
and  glowing,  harmonious  language,  perhaps  it  has 
Aiot  been  surpassed  by  any  oration  on  a  similar  occa- 
sion ;  and,  though  the  style  is  highly  oratorical,  it  is 
not  inflated  or  too  much  labored  for  such  composi- 
tion. Judge  Varnum  died  in  January,  1789.  His 
death  was  a  great  loss,  not  only  to  his  family,  but 
to  that  part  of  the  country,  where  men  of  intelligence, 
and  public  spirit  would  render  unspeakable  service 
to  the  increasing,  but  rude  and  illiterate  population. 
A  few  months  before  his  death,  he  addressed  a  very 
interesting  and  affectionate  letter  to  his  wife,  in 
Providence,  which  was  published.  It  discovers  the 
kind  husband,  the  elevated  philosopher,  the  learned 
scholar,  and  the  devout,  believing  Christian.  His 
sensibility,  at  first,  seems  to  have  almost  over- 
whelmed him,  in  the  prospect  of  so  early  a  separa-' 
tion  from  his  most  affectionate  friend,  and  of  the 
blighting  of  all  his  bright  hopes  of  prosperity  in  the 
world ;  but  religious  faith  gains  the  ascendancy,  and 
he  closes  his  letter  with  expressions  of  entire  resigna- 
tion to  the  will  of  his  heavenly  Father. 

VARNUM,  Hon.  JOSEPH  B.  was  a  brother  of 
James  M.  Varnum,  before  noticed.  He  was  quite  a 
young  man  when  the  dispute  with  England  com- 
menced, which  led  to  American  Independence.  But 
he  early  took  part  with  his  fellow  citizens  in  defence 
of  civil  liberty.  He  was  an  officer  of  the  militia,  in 
Middlesex  county,  when  quite  young — and  was  oc- 
casionally it)  the  military  service  during  the  Revoln- 
tionary  war.  Mr.  Varnum  was  several  years  a 
member  of  the  House,  and  of  the  Senate,  in  Massa- 
chusetts ;  and  some  years  speaker  of  the  House  of 


408 


WILLIAM  TASSALL. 


I       I 


Representatives.  He  was  also  a  representative  in 
CTongress  from  Middlesex  district,  for  twelve  years 
from  1792 ;  and  speaker  of  that  branch  of  the  federal 
legislature.  And  a  few  years  later,  he  had  a  seat  in 
the  Senate  of  the  United  States,  for  six  years,  by 
the  election  of  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts. 
Again,  in  1817  and  '18,  he  was  chosen  a  member  o£ 
the  Senate  in  Massachusetts ;  and  for  several  years, 
was  also  Major-General  of  the  militia  for  the  county 
of  Middlesex.  General  Varnum  was  a  sincere  re- 
publican, and  zealous  in  his  efforts  to  perpetuate  the 
blessings  of  the  free  institutions  of  the  Common- 
wealth  to  future  generations.  Few  men  in  the  State 
were  longer  in  public  life  than  he  was.  He  died  in 
1821,  aged  seventy-one. 

YASSALL,  WILLIAM  Esq.,  came  to  Massachu- 
setts Bay,  with  the  large  company,  in  1630;  and  re- 
mained a  short  time  in  Charlestown,  when  he  return- 
ed to  England.  He  was  one  of  the  board  of  assist- 
ants while  he  remained  in  the  colony.  It  appears  he 
devoted  more  time  to  trade  and  wealth,  than  to  reli- 
gion. He  did  not  agree  with  the  puritans,  and  could 
therefore  expect  little  influence  or  consideration 
among  them.  Ho  came  again  to  New  England  in 
1634  or  1635  ;  and  resided  some  time  at  Scituate  in 
Plymouth  Colony,  where  several  of  his  children 
were  married — one  daughter  to  Adams,  and  one  to 
White.  He  made  voyages  to  the  West  Indies, 
about  this  time,  and  was  fortunate  in  his  adventures. 
The  latter  part  of  his  life,  he  did  not  live  in  Massa- 
chusetts nor  Plymouth ;  but  partly  in  the  West  In- 
dies, and  partly  in  England.  Some  of  his  descend- 
ants were  inhabitants  of  Boston  and  Cambridge,  near 
the  close  of  the  last  century.  While  at  Scituate,  Mr. 
Vassall  had  disputes  with  the  Congregational  minis- 
ter ;  and  was  desirous  of  observing  the  forms  of  wor- 
ship, and  the  rites  of  religion,  according  to  the  estab- 


BENJAMIN  TAUOHAN. 


400 


Live  in 
years 
federal 
seat  in 
ars,  by 
lusetts. 
nber  oi 
years, 
county 
cere  re- 
bate the 
ommon- 
he  State 
i  died  in 


assachil- 
;  andre- 
le  return- 
if  assist- 
)pears  he 
n  to  reh- 
ind  could 
ideration 
igland  in 
cituate  in 

children 
id  one  to 
Indies, 
Iventures. 
n  Massa- 
West  In- 
s  descend- 
ridge,  near 
ituate,  Mr. 
!ial  minis- 
ms  of  wor- 

the  estab- 


lished usage  of  the  Episcopal  churches  in  England^ 
He  was  an  intelligent  and  enterprising  character,  and 
a  useful  member  of  civil  society :  but,  on  account  ci 
his  religious  opinions,  was  not  popular  either  in  Ply- 
mouth or  Massachusetts. 

VAUGHAN,  BENJAMIN  LL.  D.,  was  a  native 
of  England,  and  came  to  the  United  States  in  1796. 
He  settled  at  Hallowell,  on  the  Kennebec,  Maine; 
and  there  resided  till  his  death,  in  1836.  His  parents 
had  lived  many  years  in  America ;  and  his  mother 
was  a  native  of  Massachusetts.  And  the  children 
inherited  a  large  tract  of  land  near  Kennebec  river. 
Mr.  Yaughan  intended  his  residence  here  from  the 
first  to  be  permanent ;  and  at  once  cultivated  his 
grounds,  and  attended  to  the  duties  of  a  citizen,  but 
without  engaging  in  party  disputes,  as  many  do  when 
tfiey  arrive  in  the  United  States.  He  wisely  kept 
aloof  from  all  political  parties.  He  encouraged  a 
taste  for  agriculture,  and  prepared  a  large  nursery  of 
fruit  trees,  which  he  distributed  gratis  in  different 
parts  of  that  new  country,  where  they  were  much 
wanted.  For  twenty  years  past,  the  fruit  in  and 
near  Hallowell,  and  in  the  neighboring  towns,  has 
been  abundant — owing  in  a  great  kneasure  to  the 
generous  efforts  of  Mr.  Vaughan.  He  and  his  family 
distributed  a  great  number  of  books  for  children  in 
that  part  of  the  country ;  and  urged  the  forming  of 
schools  in  all  the  new  plantations.  The  benefits 
have  been  extensive,  and  hardly  can  be  duly  appre- 
ciated.' Mr.  Vaughan  was  a  man  of  various  and  ex- 
tensive learning.  He  was  a  good  classical  scholar, 
and  familiar  with  the  best  English  and  French 
writers.  No  man  better  understood  the  modern  his- 
tory of  Europe ;  or  was  a  better  judge  of  the  value 
and  correctness  of  new  publications.  He  had  also 
studied  astronomy,  mathematics,  and  chemistry;  but 
particularly  the  different  theories  extant  on  ethics^ 
35 


410 


IICBABD  yiNBS. 


■li 


metaphysics,  and  moral  philosophy.  He  corres- 
ponded with  some  of  the  most  eminent  scholars  and 
writers  in  England,  for  many  years  after  he  came  to 
America :  with  Sir  James  Mcintosh,  Dr.  Priestly,  Sir 
Samuel  Romilly,  Joshua  Reynolds,  Rev.  Mr.  Bel- 
sham,  d&c.  Mr.  Yaughan  was  sometime  a  pupil  of 
Dr.  Priestly,  lie  was  a  member  of  A.  A.  ».  of  A. 
P.  S.  and  of  R.  S.,  Edinburgh,  and  of  Parliament. 
He  died  at  th3  age  of  eighty-four. 

VINES,  lilCHARD  was  a  resident  in  Maine, 
near  the  mouth  of  Saco  river,  at  an  early  period. 
He  went  there  as  agent  for  Sir  Ferdinand  Gorges, 
in  1616,  four  years  before  the  settlement  of  Ply- 
ir.</ith.  Gorges  was  one  of  the  principal  members 
Df  the  Plymouth  Company,  so  called,  in  England, 
from  its  first  formation.    It  was  formed  for  the  pur- 

gt>se  of  colonizing  North  Virginia,  or  New  England, 
uch  a  company  was  known  in  1606 ;  but  was  not 
incorporated  till  November,  1620.  The  company 
held  Its  meetings  at  Plymouth,  England ;  and  was 
therefore  usually  called  the  Plymouth  Company,  or 
the  company  at  Plymouth,  for  settling  New-Eng- 
land or  North  Virginia.  Gorges  made  various 
efforts  for  a  settlement  for  the  purposes  of  trade  and 
fishery.  After  the  attempt  for  a  settlement  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Kennebec  river,  in  1607,  which  proved 
unsuccessful.  Gorges  proposed  to  establish  a  compa- 
ny at  the  mouth  of  the  Saco  river;  and  placed 
Vines  there  as  his  principal  agent,  or  overseer.  The 
whole  number  was  not  large ;  and  it  was  not  in  fact 
a  permanent  settlement.  For  though  Gorges  did 
not  formally  abandon  the  place,  nor  resolve  to  give 
it  up  entirely.  Vines  and  those  with  him,  after  one 
winter,  left  it  for  some  years,  and  Gorges  occupied  it 
only  a  part  of  each  year,  as  a  stopping  place  for  his 
fishing  vessels.  But  in  1622,  or  '23,  Vines  was 
again  sent  there  by  Gorges,  who  had  a  grant  of 


:orrei> 
rs  and 
ime  to 
ily,Sir 
r.  Bel- 
upil  of 
I.  of  A. 
ament. 


Maine, 
period. 
GrOTKes, 

of  Ply- 
lembers 
ngland, 
he  pur- 
Ingland. 
vM  not 
Dmpany 
nd  was 
)any,  or 
w-Eng- 
various 
ade  and 
t  at  the 
ti  proved 
[  compa- 

placed 
jr.  The 
it  in  fact 
rges  did 

to  give 
fter  one 
cupied  it 
!e  lor  his 
aes  was 
grant  of 


EIOHARD  VINIS.  411 

I         land  of  some  extent  there ;  and  from  that  period 
'  Gorges  maintained  a  few  meiK  with  Vines  as  his 

agent  Tines  continued  there  from  this  time,  sever- 
al years  ;  and  was  sometimes  called  the  governor  of 
the  plantation.  Mr.  Tines  had, the  reputation  of  ao 
active  and  enterprising  man;  and  in  his  conduct 
generally  gave  satisfaction  to  the  lord  proprietor. 
At  a  later  period,  one  of  the  heirs  of  the  nrst  Oor^ies 
visited  Maine,  and  projected  a  plan  for  an  extensive 
settlement,  and  a  regular  government,  from  Piscata- 
qua  to  Casco  bay ;  but  little  was  effected,  though  he 
expended  a  large  property  in  his  efforts  to  establish  a 
city  and  a  palatinate.  The  history  of  Gorges'  pro- 
eeedings,  in  his  plan  of  erecting  a  separate  govern- 
ment, compared  with  the  puritans  at  Plymouth  and 
Massachusetts,  show  the  importance  of  adventurers 
attending  personally  to  their  interests,  if  it  does  not 
also  prove  the  necessity  of  having  a  new  colony 
inhabited  by  worthy  and  religious  characters.         «« 

'.i 

■•*» 

d 


^ 


.;»>■ 


\i: 


— JJ. 


I  1 


'W,  / 


f 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


W 


WADSWORTH,  JOHN  was  a  native  of  Dux- 
bury,  in  the  County  of  Plymouth  ;  and  his  mother, 
a  great  gjand-datighter  of  John  Alden,  who  came  in 
the  May-flower,  in  1620.  Mr.  Wadsworth  received 
his  public  education  in  Harvard  College,  with  the 
class  of  1762;  and  was  then  considered  a  good 
scholar.  He  was  engaged  a  few  years  in  teaching 
▼outh ;  but  at  the  same  time  was  desirous  of  learn- 
jmg  himself.  He  had  a  taste  for  logical  and  meta- 
physical discussion,  and  gave  much  of  his  leisure  to 
the  study  of  treatises  on  those  subjects.  He  had  a 
discriminating  mind;  and  was,  indeed,  thought  by 
some  of  his  friends,  to  be  uuprofitably  critical  in 
the  distinctions  he  urged  or  proposed.  He  was 
chosen  a  tutor  in  the  university,  in  1770,  and  there 
had  the  reputation  of  an  able  logician.  His  fond- 
ness for  metaphysical  subjects  still  remai'  and 
his  superior  powers  in  this  department  \\  j  'ver- 
sally  acknowledged.  He  remained  in  t  station 
till  1777,  and  a  part]  of  that  time,  being  UiC  oldest 
tutor,  was  ex-officio  a  member  of  the  corporation. 
He  was  the  last  but  two  of  the  tutors,  who  had  a 
seat  at  that  board.  These  were  Stephen  Hall  and 
Caleb  Gannett.  Mr.  Wadsworth  died  in  1777, 
while  in  office  in  the  university.  He  fell  a  victim 
to  the  small  pox,  which  then  prevailed  in  Cam- 
bridge ;  and  it  is  a  remarkable  fact,  that  he  had 
long  anticipated  death  by  that  disorder,  and  was 
therefore  greatly  alarmed,  when  his  physician  told 


w 
Ci 


PELEO  WADSWOBTR. 


413 


Ditx- 

lother, 
nmein 
«eived 
th  the 
i  good 
aching 
'  learn- 
meta- 
isure  to 
ft  had  a 
^ght  by 
ical   in 
e   was 
there 
fond- 
and 
ver- 
station 
oldest 
oration, 
had  a 
all  and 
1777, 
victim 
ti  Cam- 
he  had 
nd  was 
an  told 


him  be  had  taken  it.  He  had  declined  innocnlation 
through  fear  of  the  result  Mr.  Wadsworth  was 
greatly  lamented  by  the  students.  The  older  ones 
could  appreciate  his  talents  and  learning ;  and  the 
younger  regarded  him  with  affection,  for  his  ro;M 
and  courteous  deportment.  His  epitaph  repr>"ri'.. 
him  as  a  good  scholar,  and  admired  of  all  .  "  '  ta 
acuteness,  and  his  easy  manner  of  commun' ^  \.i  )u 
knowledge  to  his  pupils. 

WADSWORTH,  General  PELEO  was  ooui  in 
Duzbury,  in  the  County  of  Plymouth,  and  a  cousin 
of  the  aforenamed.  He  was  graduated  in  Harvard 
College,  in  1769 ;  and  afterwards  had  the  charge  of 
the  public  town  school  in  Plymouth  and  Kingston. 
When  the  dispute  with  Great  Britain  assumed  a 
serious  and  alarming  character,  he  engaged  decided- 
ly on  the  part  of  the  oppressed  provinces.  He  had 
a  seat  in  the  County  Convention,  at  Plymouth,  as 
one  of  the  delegates  from  Duxbury,  in  September 
1774  And  in  1775,  entered  the  military  depart- 
ment of  the  province,  formed  for  the  common  de- 
fence and  welfare.  Mr.  Wadsworth  was  not  in  the 
regular  Continental  army ;  but  in  1775,  he  received 
a  con^mission  as  captain  of  a  company  of  ninety 
men  in  the  States'  service,  and  was  appointed  an 
engineer,  by  General  Thomas,  the  same  year,  in 
forming  the  army  lines  in  Roxbury  and  Dorchester. 
In  1776,  he  served  an  Aid  to  Gen.  Ward  in  and  near 
Boston.  He  afterwards  received  the  appointment 
of  Adjutant  General,  for  Massachusetts.  He  had 
the  command  of  the  men  (1775)  who  were  called  out 
in  Maine,  near  Penobscot  bay.  The  British  had  pos- 
session of  Castine,  in  that  bay,  and  the  people  in 
the  vicinity,  for  fifty  miles,  were  much  exposed. 
The  place  of  Wads  worth's  residence,  at  one  time, 
was  Belfast ;  it  was  made  known  to  the  enemy  at 
Castine,  and  they  sent  men  who  seized  him  in  the 
35* 


"'T'!*""'*""'*'*'" '  "•*— '•"* 


414 


;OBN   WALLIT.    * 


nighc,  and  carried  him  to  Castine.  But  this  iirat 
after  the  expedition  against  the  British  at  Castine, 
by  Massachusetts,  in  1779,  in  which  General  Wads*> 
yrorth  was  appointed  second  in  command.  General 
Lovell  of  Weymouth,  was  commander-in»chief. 
The  attack  proved  unsuccessful ;  and  the  American 
troops  retreated  in  much  confusion,  and  with  con- 
siderable  loss.  General  Wadsworth  had  the  praise 
of  good  conduct  for  saving  many  of  the  men  in  the 
retreat.  He  was  a  representative  in  Congress  from 
Cumberland  county,  in  1790,  and  had  the  election 
for  six  successive  terms.  He  survived  to  the  age  of 
eighty-one  years,  and  died  in  the  county  of  Oxford, 
in  183Q,  where  he  owned  a  large  tract  of  land. 

WALLEY,  Hon.  JOHN  was  a  native  of  Barn- 
stable, and  son  of  Rev.  Mr.  Walley,  of  that  town. 
He  entered  public  life  at  an  early  age;  and  was: one  of 
the  board  of  assistants  in  Plymouth  Colony  in  1675. 
He  was  appointed  one  of  the  council  of  Sir  Edmund 
Audros,  in  1686 :  but  neither  he  nor  his  colleagues, 
Hinckley,  Bradford,  or  Lothrop,  approved'  or  aided 
Andros  in  bis  arbitrary  measures.  When  Plymouth 
was  included  in  the  Massachusetts  Province,  in  1691, 
he  was  also  one  of  the  four  counsellors  from  the  old 
colony.  About  this  time  he  removed  to  Bristol,  and 
resided  there  several  years,  when  he  removed  to 
Boston,  where  he  died  in  1712,  at  the  age  of  seventy. 
Mr.  Walley  was  often  in  the  military  service  of  the 
Province.  In  1690,  he  was  second  in  command^ 
with  the  title  of  General,  under  Sir  William  Phips, 
in  the  expedition  against  Qjuebec.  The  preparations 
made  for  the  purpose  were  not  sufficiently  formida- 
ble: and  it  was  late  in  .the  fall  of  the  year  when 
Phips  arrived  in  the  vicinity  of  Quebec.  An  attack 
was  made  on  the  French  there,  but  it  proved  unsuc* 
cessful.  ,  The  expense  attending  it  was  great  to  die 
province,  by  the  authority  of  which  the  expedition 


NBUIMUH  WALTER. 


416 


was  undertaken ;  and  paper  money,  for  the  first  time, 
was  issued  by  the  General  Court,  to  pay  the  troops 
and  other  demands.  General  Walley  was  an  honor- 
able man;  of  great  sobriety  and  prudence,  and  a  rery 
religious  character.  Some  of  his  descendants  now 
live  in  Boston. 

WALTER,  Rbv.  NEHEMIAH  was  educated  in 
Harvard  College,  and  received  his  degree  with  the 
class  of  1684.  He  settled  in  the  ministry  in  1688, 
as  colleague  to  the  venerable  and  apostolic  Eliot, 
in  Roxbury.  He  lived  to  a  good  old  age ;  being 
the  pastor  of  the  church  in  that  town  more  than  sixty 
years.  He  died  in  1750,  aged  eighty-seven.  He 
was  happy  with  his  people,  and  happy  with  his  aged 
colleague.  "  He  paid  every  tribute  of  respect  to  the 
aged  seer;  and  in  return,  received  from  him  every 
tender  affection."  Mr.  Walter  had  a  high  reputation 
as  a  scholar,  among  the  learned  men  of  his  time ;  and 
he  was  esteemed  as  an  "  excellent  divine,  and  an  ad- 
mirable preacher,  as  well  as  for  simplicity  of  manners 
and  holiness  of  life ;  as  humble,  prudent  and  courw 
teous."  Young  men,  students  in  theology,  weref(Mid 
of  his  conversation,  and  sought  his  company — ^for 
he  was  communicative  and  instructive.  Mr.  Fox^ 
croft,  several  years  pastor  of  the  first  church  in  Boa- 
ton,  before  and  with  Dr.  Chauncy,  acknowledged 
himself  under  great  obligations  to  the  venerable 
minister  of  Roxbury,  for  giving  him  good  advice  and 
correct  views  on  some  theological  points;  and  con- 
vincing him  of  the  agreement  of  the  congregaitional 
forms  and  government  with  primitive  times.  His 
publications  are — Convention  Sermon,  in  1723-^the 
New  Covenant,  from  Isaiah,  55  :  3 — a  series  of  dis- 
courses :  "Christ  given  by  God,  as  a  witness,  a  leader 
and  commander  (or  ruler)  of  the  people,"  published 
after  his  decease.  ;j^;_^4.„^\.,  ^^..;..:i ,  *^  jjuiit 


\'-' 


416 


THOMAS  WALTEB. 


WALTER,  Rev.  THOMAS  a  son  of  Rev.  Nehe- 
miah,  before  named,  received  his  public  education  in 
Harvard  College,  where  he  was  graduated  in  the 
year  1713,  and  was  sometime  a  colleague  in  the 
ministry  with  his  fother,  at  Roxbury — but  died  be- 
fore he  passed  the  meridian  of  life,  according  to  the 
common  age  of  man.     But  if  his  years  were  com- 
paratively few,  he  so  diligently  improved  his  time 
and  talents,  as  to  be  among  the  first  scholars  of  his 
generation.     Dr.  Chauncy  gives  him  a  rank  with 
the  most  talented  and  learned  men  of  the  period  in 
which  he  lived.    He  names  Mr.  Walter,  with  Rev. 
Peter  Bulkley,  of  Connecticut,  and  Hon.  Jeremiah 
Dummer,  of  Massachusetts,  and  says,  "  they  were 
accounted  the  best  scholars  and  the  ablest  men  in 
New  England."    His  acciuirements  were  very  un- 
common ;  he  had  quick  perceptions,  and  a  retentive 
memory ;  and  became  possessed  of  extraordinary  lit* 
erary  treasures.    He  had  all  the  learning  of  Cotton 
Mather,  which  was  important — without  his  literary 
nuges.    He  knew  how  to  distinguish  the  wheat  from 
the  chaff.    Had  he  lived  to  the  common  age  of  man, 
his  friends  supposed  he  would  have  been  the  most 
learned  man  in  New  England,  from  its  first  settle- 
ment.   Several  of  Mr.  Waiter's  discourses  were  pub- 
lished     One  was   delivered  when  he  was  about 
twenty-four,  at  a  special  lecture,  before  a  society  in 
Boston  for  promoting  regular  and  good  singing  at  all 
times  of  religious  worship.     Another,  entitled  "  the 
scriptures  the  only  rule  of  faith  and  practice,"  in  1723, 
when  he  was  not  thirty.    The  first  discourse  is  ingen- 
ious and  appropriate.     The  other,  reflects  great  hon- 
or on  his  character  as  a  learned  and  liberal  theologian. 
It  is  elaborate  in  research,  and  able  in  argument-^ 
•hewing  the  sufficiency  of  the  scriptures,  that  they 
are  the  only  standard  and  guide  in  religion;  and 
that  all  human  systems  and  theories  are  utterly  in- 


g 


n 
I 


■  ?i 


h 
ix 


re 

P 
it 

ir 
te 


cl 
fo 
in 


« 


APTniAS  WABD. 


417 


ion  in 
a  the 
n  the 
id  be- 
to  the 
i  com- 
I  time 
of  his 
:  with 
iod  in 
1  Rev. 
remiah 
f  were 
nen  in 
ry  un- 
teutive 
ary  lit- 
Cotton 
iteraiy 
Bit  from 
>f  man, 
e  most 
,  settle- 
re  pub- 
i  about 
:iety  in 
g  at  all 
"the 
n  1723, 
3  ingen- 
tathon- 
>logiau. 
ment— 
at  they 
)n;  and 
erly  in- 


sufficient and  vain.  No  diiteourse,  delivered  at  that 
time,  1723,  nor  afterwards,  except  by  Chauncy  or 
May  hew,  has  been  preserved,  of  so  much  power  or 
learning,  or  abounding  with  arguments  so  pertinent 
and  satisfactory.  He  rejects  all  creeds  and  forms 
not  clearly  founded  in  and  agreeable  to  the  sacred 
scriptures.  "The  commands  of  men,"  he  says, 
*^are  to  be  rejected,  simply,  and  if  no  other  objection 
to  them,  because  they  are  of  human  imposition ;  "  a 
sentiment  as  catholic  as  that  contained  in  the  de- 
claration of  the  celebrated  Jdm  Robinson,  the  pastor 
of  the  Leyden  church,  and  of  the  Plymouth  pil- 
grims. 

ttWARD,  Hon.  ARTEMAS  was  a  native  of 
Shrewsbury,  in  the  county  of  Worcester,  Massachu^ 
setts,  and  his  family  was  among  the  most  respectable 
in  the  county.  He  received  his  public  education  in 
Harvard  Cdllege,  and  graduated  with  the  class  of 
1748.  He  held  a  commission  in  the  provincial  army, 
in  1756-1762,  when  there  was  a  war  between  Eng- 
land and  France,  in  which  a  large  body  of  troops 
from  Massachusetts  were  engaged.  He  had  a  seat 
in  the  House  of  Representatives  for  several  years, 
before  the  war  of  17/5 :  and  was^chosen  a  member  of 
the  Council,  but  with  some  other  whigs,  received  the 
negative  of  the  Governor.  His  name  appears  on  the 
records  of  the  province,  as  a  member  of  several  im- 
portant committees  of  the  House  of  Repie:%ntatives, 
in  1772,  1773,  and  1774.  When  the  militia  of  Mas- 
sachusetts assembled  in  great  numbers  at  Cambridge, 
in  April  1775,  immediately  after  the  affair  at  Lexing- 
ton and  Concord,  to  defend  the  province  from  depre- 
dations of  the  British  army  in  Boston,  Mr.  Ward 
was  appointed  to  command  them.  He  had  been 
chosen  in  November  1774,  with  Preble  and  Pomeroy, 
for  that  purpose,  if  a  military  force  should  be  raised 
in  defence  of  the  rights  of  the  people.     In  July  of 


prgrsTituffiinw 


418 


ARTEMAS     WARD. 


I;! 
'i'i 


Ihit  year,  General  Washington,  by  appcintmenl  of 
the  Continental  Congress,  took  command  of  the  troops 
assembled  at  Cambridge  and  vicinity ;  there  being 
m^'.ny  there  collected  from  the  other  colonies,  who 
were  resolved  to  make  a  common  cause  of  the  con- 
test commenced  against  Massachusetts.  He  received 
a  commission  frum  the  Continental  Congress  at  that 
time,  as  a  Major-General ;  and  continued  in  the  public 
service  of  the  country  most  of  the  war.  In  1776, 
however,  he  was  one  of  the  Supreme  Executive 
Council ;  an  important  station,  as  there  was  no  Gov- 
ernor in  the  province.  General  Ward  had  the  repu- 
tation of  a  brave  and  judicious  officer.  He  had  all 
the  prudence  and  caution  of  General  Washington. 
Some  have  supposed  he  shottld  have  sent  troops  nrom 
the  camp  in  Cambridge  to  support  the  men  on  Bun- 
ker's Hill,  on  the  17th  of  June  1775.  But  he  had 
reason  to  apprehend  an  attack  on  his  quarters  there 
from  the  British  army  in  Boston.  Had  such  an  at- 
tack been  made,  and  proved  successful,  by  having 
sent  away  part  of  the  troops  there  to  Charlestown, 
the  consequences  would  have  been  most  disastrous — 
and  probably,  the  country  subdued  and  brought  un- 
der the  British  yoke.  General  Ward  continued  in 
the  army  the  greater  portion  of  the  war ;  but  was 
occasionally  a  member  of  the  Supreme  Executive 
Council  of  Massachusetts,  when  not  in  the  military 
service.  At  a  later  period,  1786,  General  Ward  was 
a  member  of  Congress  from  Massachusetts ;  and  also 
represented  his  native  town  in  the  General  Court, 
where  he  was  Speaker  of  the  House.  He  lived  to 
an  advanced  age ;  and  died  full  of  honors  for  his  va- 
rious public  services.  His  son,  of  the  same  name, 
has  acted  an  honorable  part  in  society ;  and  has  been 
an  eminent  lawyer,  member  of  both  branches  of  the 
Legislature,  and  of  the  Supreme  Executive  Council, 
in  Massachusetts,  member  of  Congress,  and  Chief 
Justice  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  the  Com- 


a 


III 


JAMES   WARBBN. — JOSEPH    WARREN. 


419 


enlof 
troops 
being 
,  vrYio 
i  con- 
ceived 
t  that 
public 
1776, 
jcutive 
oGov- 
B  repu- 
lad  all 
ington. 
pstrom 
n  Bun- 
he  had 
■8  there 
an  at- 
having 
estown, 
ttrous — 
ght  un- 
nued  in 
)ut  was 
cecutive 
military 
aid  was 
and  also 
I  Court, 
lived  to 
r  his  va- 
e  name, 
has  been 
■es  of  the 
Council, 
[id  Chief 
he  Com- 


monwealth. A  christian  by  profession,  and  in  his 
life  and  conversation. 

\  WARREN,  Hon.  JAMES  was  a  citizen  of  Ply- 
mouth,  that  parent  town  of  New  England ;  and  a 
descendant  from  Richard  Warren,  one  of  the  princi- 
pal characters  among  "  the  first  comers."  His 
father  was  sheriff  of  the  county  ;  and  James  Warren 
slso  sometime  held  the  same  office.  He  had  a  pub- 
lic education  in  Harvard  Coliege,  and  received  his 
degree  with  the  class  of  1745.  He  had  good  taleuts^ 
a.nd  as  great  a  share  of  influence  among  his  fellow 
citizens  as  almost  any  one  in  the  county.  When 
the  dispute  arose  with  Great  Britain  as  to  the  civil 
rights  of  the  colonies,  and  their  exemption  from  tax- 
ation by  the  parliament  in  England,  where  the  peo- 
ple in  America  were  not  represented,  Mr.  Warren 
took  a  decided  stand  on  the  part  of  the  colonies.  At 
the  convention  in  Plymouth  county,  in  September, 
1774,  he  was  chosen  president ;  and  was  also  a  meia- 
ber  of  the  provincial  Congresses  of  Massachusetts, 
of  October  1774,  February  1775,  and  May  1775. 
He  proved  to  be  a  very  active  and  useful  member  of 
those  patriotic  assemblies ;  and  on  the  death  of  Gen- 
eral Joseph  Warren,  June  17,  1775,  he  was  elected 
president.  He  was  also  speaker  of  the  House  of 
tlepresentatives,  in  July  1775  ;  and  at  several  other 
times  afterwards.  In  1780,  he  was  chosen  Lieuten- 
ant Governor  of  Massachusetts,  but  declined  the 
oflice ;  and  was  little  in  public  life  after  that  period. 
He  had  many  qualities  for  public  stations,  and  dis- 
charged the  duties  of  those  he  held  with  ability  and 
promptness.  His  lady  was  a  sister  of  the  celebrated 
patriot  James  Otis,  Jr.,  a  woman  of  uncommon  in- 
tellectual power,  and  a  good  writer.  She  published 
a  history  of  the  American  war,  in  three  volumes. 

i  WARREN,  Hon.  JOSEPH  was  a  citizen  of  Roz- 


420 


J08BPB  WABSBN. 


iKtr. 


11, 


1 1   1 


|i    i<ii 


bury,  and  his  father  a  respectable  fanner  in  that 
town.  He  vras  educated  in  Harvard  College,  and 
graduated  there  in  the  year  1759.  He  chose  the 
profession  of  a  physician;  and  devoted  the  early 

Eart  of  his  life  to  the  practice  of  the  healing  art.  He 
ad  the  reputation  of  a  skilful  physician,  as  well  as 
of  a  general  scholar;  and  a  man  of  ardent  and  genr 
erous  feelings.  When  the  dispute  with  Great  Britain 
created  a  more  than  common  interest,  and  it  was  ap* 
parent  that  the  rights  and  liberties  of  the  people 
could  not  be  preserved  without  firm  and  resolute  op- 
position to  the  measures  adopted  or  proposed,  with 
respect  to  the  colonies,  Dr.  Warren  engaged  in  the 
controversy  with  all  his  native  ardor ;  animated  by 
the  consideration  of  the  momentous  issue  then  pend- 
ing. He  foresaw  the  approaching  crisis  with  anxr 
iety,  but  without  despondence.  He  soon  resolved  to 
stake  property  and  life  in  his  country's  cause;  and 
he  was  one  of  the  most  active  and  decided  patriots 
of  that  memorable  period.  He  delivered  the  oration 
before  the  citizens  of  Boston,  in  1775,  on  the  annir 
versary  of  the  Massacre  of  the  5th  of  M<i(rch,  1770, 
when  no  one  else  had  the  courage  to  do  it ;  though 
he  had  pronounced  one  three  years  befor<;,  on  tlmt 
occasion.  Had  the  courage  to  do  it — for  there  \^ere 
several  thousand  British  troops  in  Boston,  to  overawe 
the  people,  and  to  enforce  obnoxious  and  oppressive 
laws,  which  had  been  passed  by  parliament,  infring* 
ing  on  their  most  essential  civil  rights,  and  violating 
the  express  provisions  of  their  charter.  But  Warren 
pronounced  the  oration,  before  a  crowded  audience^ 
composed  in  part  of  British  officers.  And  he  asserted 
the  danger  and  the  tyranny  of  keeping  a  standing 
army  in  the  city  and  province  in  the  time  of  peace, 
so  explicitly  and  so  indignantly,  that  some  of  the 
officers  were  ready  to  immolate  him  on  the  spot; 
but  the  more  prudent  men  prevented  it.  When  the 
British  troops  were  preparing  to  leave  Boston,; April 


JOHN  WABRVN. 


421 


thai 
,  and 

e  the 

early 

He 

ell  as 

i  genr 
kitain 
asap- 
people 
iteop* 
I,  with 
in  the 
ted  by 
I  pendr 
li  anxr 
flved  to 
e;  and 
)atriots 
oration 
e  annir 
I,  1770, 
tViough 
y\  that 
•e  were 
vera  we 
)re$sive 
uafring* 
iolating 
Warren 
tdience» 
asserted 
tanding 
peace, 
of  the 
le  spot ; 
hen  the 
n,  April 


18th,  for  an  expedition  into  the  country  to  seizfr  the 
military  stores  collected  at  Concord,  and  to  secure 
the  persons  of  Samuel  Adams  and  John  Hancock, 
then  at  Lexington,  to  send  them  to  England  to  be 
tried  for  treason,  he  despatched  Colonel  Revere  to 
give  the  alarm — and  ho  was  exposed  in  the   high- 
way, on  the  I9th  of  that  month,  to  the  vengeance  of 
the  British  soldiers,  on  their  return  to  the  metropolis. 
On  the  memorable  17th  of  June,  of  that  year,  he  in- 
sisted upon  visiting  Charlestown  heights,  although 
his  public  duty  did  not  require  him  to  be  personally 
present,  and  "his  friends  remonstrated   against  his 
thus  exposing  himself  on  that  day.     He  had  irideed 
been  chosen  a  Major-General  a  few  days  before,  but 
had  not  received  a  commission  ;  he  had  no  command 
given  him  to  take  part  in  that  enterprise ;  but  was 
with  the  Committee  of  Safety,  at  Cambridge,  there 
assembled  for  advice  and  consultation.     The  fatal 
resu.lt  of  that  movement,  most  honorable  as  it  was  to 
his  patriotic  feelings,  is  known  to  every  American, 
young  as   well  as  old ;  and  will  not  be  forgotten 
while  the  love  of  liberty  is  cherished,  or  patriotism 
is  duly  appreciated,  by  the  citizens  of  the  United 
States.     Dr.  Warren  was  one  of  the  delegates  to  the 
Suffolk  County  Convention,  first  at  Dedham,  and 
then,   by  adjournment,  at    Milton,    in    September 
1774 — and  chairman  of  the  committee,  by  which  the 
firm  and  able  resolves  were  prepared  and  forwarded 
to  the  continental  Congress,  then  sitting  at  Philadel- 
phia.    He  was  president  of  the  third  provincial  Con- 
gress of  Massachusetts,  which  met  at  Watertown,  in 
May  1776 — and  also  chairman  of  the  executive  com- 
mittee of  safety,  after  Mr.  Hancock  joined  the  con- 
tinental Congress,  in  May  1775. 

WARREN,  JOHN  M.  D.,  A.  A.  S.,  a  native  of 
Roxbury,  and  brother  of  Gen.  Joseph   Warren  who 
was  slain  on  Bunker's  Hill,  17th  June  1775,  received 
36 


422 


ME8HECU   WBARE. 


his  public  education  in  Harvard  College,  with  the 
class  of  1771.  He  attended  the  study  of  medicine 
under  the  direction  of  his  brother,  who  was  also  an 
eminent  physician ;  and  about  ten  years  older  than 
John.  If  he  had  not  all  the  zeal  and  enthusiasm 
which  his  brother  displayed,  he  was  a  true  friend  to 
the  cause  of  civil  liberty,  and  was  decided,  firm,  and 
active.  He  was  appointed  Hospital  Surgeon  in  1775 ; 
and  continued  in  that  station  several  years ;  when 
he  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Boston. 
The  other  surgeons  belonging  to  Massachusetts,  were 
Hayward,  Townsend,  Eustis,  Adams,  Hart,  6ic.  Dr. 
Warren  was  an  original  member  of  the  Medical 
Society,  and  some  time  President :  and  when  a  med* 
ical  and  anatomical  department  was  established  at 
Cambridge,  connected  with  the  University,  he  was 
chosen  Professor  of  Anatomy  and  Surgery.  He  was 
a  popular  lecturer ;  and  as  a  practising  physician 
very  few  have  been  more  acceptable  than  he  was.  As 
a  surgeon,  he  excelled  all  others  in  the  State.  He 
was  a  worthy  and  useful  member  of  several  societies 
for  literary  and  benevolent  purposes.  He  was  a  ra- 
tional, liberal,  and  exemplary  christian,  and  many 
years  a  member  of  the  church  in  Brattle  jquare, 
Boston.     He  died  in  1815,  at  the  age  of  sixty-two. 

WEARE,  Hon.  MESHECH  was  a  native  of 
Hampton,  in  the  State  of  New  Hampshire,  and  re- 
oeived  his  public  education  in  Harvard  College,  with 
the  class  of  1735.  He  was  a  Justice  of  the  Superior 
Court,  and  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives, 
before  the  Revolution,  and  one  of  the  principal  public 
characters  ia  that  province  when  the  war  began. 
He  took  part  with  the  whigs  of  that  period ;  and, 
when  petitions  and  remonstrances;  for  several  years, 
proved  ineffectual,  he  was  willing  to  resort  to  arms, 
as  that  extreme  measure,  or  slavery,  was  the  only 
alternative.     He  was  chief  magistrate  of  that  State 


O.  WENDELL — J.    WENTWORTH. 


483 


ith  the 
edicine 
tlso  an 
IT  than 
nsiasm 
iend  to 
m,  and 
n 1776 ; 

when 
Boston, 
ts,  were 
wj.    Dr. 
Medical 
I  a  med- 
shed  at 
he  was 
He  was 
hysician 
iras.    As 
te.     He 
societies 
'as  a  ra- 
id many 

jquare, 
y-two. 

lative  of 
and  rc- 
ege,  with 
Superior 
jntatives, 
)al  puhlic 
ir  hegan. 
3d ;    and, 
ral  years, 
to  arms, 
the  only 
hat  State 


from  1776  to  1784,  when  he  retired  from  all  oublic 
service,  on  account  of  the  infirmities  of  a§e,  ana  died 
in  the  year  1785,  aged  seventy-three.  Mr.  Weare 
was  also  sometime  Chief  Justice  of  the  Supreme 
Court  in  New  Hampshire.  He  possessed  respectable 
talents,  and  was  classed  among  the  literati  of  New 
England.  He  was  early  a  memoer  of  the  American 
Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences. 

'  WENDELL,  Hon.  OLIVER  received  his  educa- 
tion in  Harvard  College,  where  he  was  graduated  in 
1753.  He  was  many  years  a  merchant  in  Boston, 
highly  respected  for  his  correct  and  honorable  con- 
duct. He  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  his  fellow  citi- 
zens in  an  equal  degree  with  the  most  eminent  char- 
acters in  that  town.  In  the  great  question  of  a 
struggle  for  liberty,  or  submission  to  arbitrary  power, 
in  1770-'76,  Mr.  Wendell  was  of  the  number  who 
resolved  to  make  every  effort  to  preserve  their  civil 
rights.  He  attended  the  second  and  third  Provincial 
Congresses  of  Massachusetts,  held  in  February  1775, 
and  in  May  following.  For  several  years  after  this 
period,  he  had  a  seat  in  the  House  of  Representatives 
and  in  the  Senate ;  and  was  sometime  Judge  of  Pro- 
bate for  the  county  of  Suffolk.  He  belonged  to 
several  societies  for  religious  and  charitable  objects, 
and  was  President  of  the  oldest  Missionary  Society 
in  the  State.  He  always  promoted  the  interests  and 
prosperity  of  Harvard  College,  and  was  one  of  the 
Qorporation  twenty-four  years.  He  arrived  at  a  good 
old  age,  honored  and  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  his 
worth. 

"  WENTWORTH,  Hon.  JOHN  who  was  several 
years  Governor  of  the  province  of  New  Hampshire, 
was  educated  in  Harvard  College,  and  received  hia 
first  degree  in  1755.  He  had  a  high  character  as  a 
literary  man.  The  degree  of  L  L.  D  was  conferred 
pn  him^by  Dartmouth  College,  and  by  the  universities 


424 


J.  WENTWOBTH — B.  WEST. 


11 


of  Oxford  and  Aberdeen.  Mr.  Wentworth  was  Gov- 
ernor of  New  Hampshire  from  1767  to  1775  ;  and 
afterward  of  the  province  of  Nova  Scotia.  In  the 
^reat  political  dispute  with  England,  which  began 
m  1765,  he  supported  the  claims  and  the  cause  of 
the  parent  administration ;  and  in  1775,  he  left  New 
Hampshire  and  went  to  Halifax,  in  Nova  Scotia. 
He  was  of  the  moderate  party  in  politics,  and  acted 
in  opposition  to  the  whigs,  only  in  so  far  as  bis 
official  j<ation  reauired.  He  was  desirous  of  the 
continued  union  of  the  colonies  with  the  parent  gov- 
ernment. Governor  Wentworth  was  a  nephew  of 
Benning  Wentworth,  who  was  the  chiel  magistrate 
of  New  Hampshire  from  1741  to  1767. 

WENTWORTH,  Hon.  JOHN  was  a  native  of 
Somers worth,  in  New  Hampshire,  and  received  his 
public  education  in  Harvard  College,  with  the  class 
of  1768.  He  was  a  son  of  Hon.  John  Wentworth, 
of  the  same  place ;  who  was  frequently  in  public 
office,  and  some  time  a  Judge  of  Probate  and  a  Jus- 
tice of  the  Superior  Court,  for  the  province  of  New 
Hampshire,  and  who  died  in  1781.  John  Went- 
worth, Jr.  was  a  firm  and  active  patriot  in  the 
memorable  period  of  1774,  1775,  &c.  In  1774,  he 
was  one  of  the  committee  of  safety  for  that  province ; 
and  soon  after  a  member  of  the  House  of  Assembly. 
In  1778,  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  three  delegates 
by  that  State,  to  attend  the  continental  Congress ; 
but  he  was  a  member  of  that  body  only  two  or  three 
years.  He  was,  however,  in  public  office  in  New 
Hampshire  some  time  after  that  period.  But  he 
died  when  only  forty-one  years  of  age,  in  1787.  He 
was  a  lawyer  by  profession  ;  and  resided  at  Dover. 
John  Sullivan  ana  John  Wentworth,  Jr.  were  the 
only  attornies  in  that  vicinity,  in  17*^3. 

WEST,  Hon.  BENJAMIN  son  of  Rev.  Thomas 
West  of  Rochester,  Massachusetts,  had  his  education 


B.  WEST — 8.  WEST. 


'1*5 


iGov- 
•   and 
In  the 
began 
Luse  of 
rtNew 
Scotia. 
1  acted 
as  bis 
of  the 
nt  gov- 
hew  of 
gistrate 


itive  of 
ved  his 
he  class 
iiworth, 
I  public 
d  a  Jus- 
of  New 
Went- 
in  the 
1774,  he 
rovince ; 
isembly. 
elegates 
ongress ; 
or  three 
in  New 
But  he 
87.     He 
t  Dover, 
vere  the 


Thomas 
iducation 


in  Harvard  College,  and  took  his  degree  in  1768. 
He  engaged  in  the  profession  of  law,  and  settled  at 
Charlestown,  in  the  State  of  New  Hampshire.  He 
had  extensive  practice,  and  was  reputed  an  able 
lawyer.  He  was  a  representative  from  New  Hamp-  ' 
shire  in  Congress,  after  the  adoption  of  the  federal 
constitution  of  1788.  He  received  the  suffrages  of 
his  fellow  citizens  for  that  station,  for  several  terms. 
He  approved  of  the  measures  of  President  Washing- 
ton ;  and  often  gave  efficient  aid  to  secure  the  adoption 
of  those  measures.  He  has  always  been  ranked  with 
the  most  able  legal  characters  in  the  State  of  New  - 
Hampshire ;  with  Smith,  Mason,  and  Sullivan. 

WEST,  BENJAMIN  LL.  D.,  a  native  of  Reho- 
both,  Massachusetts,  was  distinguished  as  a  mathe- 
matician, and  received  an  honorary  degree  in  Har- 
vard, Brown,  and  Dartmouth  Colleges.  He  gave 
his  attention  particularly  to  the  study  of  astronomy ; 
and  few  in  the  country,  fifty  years  ago,  had  so  much 
knowledge  on  the  subject  as  Mr.  West.  He  was 
professor  of  astronomy,  mathematics,  and  natural 
philosophy,  in  Brown  Univer^tity,  during  twelve 
years :  and  next  to  professor  Winthrop  of  Harvard 
University,  and  Dr.  Rittenhouse  of  Philadelphia, 
Mr.  West  was  generally  estimated  as  one  of  the  most 
eminent  natural  philosophers  in  the  United  States } 
and  in  early  life,  he  had  fewer  advantages  than  they, 
from  the  instructions  of  learned  men.  He  was  chosen 
professor  in  Brown  College,  in  1786,  and  held  that 
place  till  near  the  close  of  life.  He  died  in  1813,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-three. 

WEST,  Rev.  SAMUEL  D.  D.,  was  a  native  of 
Yarmouth,  in  the  county  of  Barnstable,  Massachu- 
setts, and  received  his  public  education  in  Harvard 
College,  with  the  class  of  1754.  He  made  greater 
progress  in  his  studies,  when  an  undergraduate,  tbao 
36  • 


426 


SAMUEL  WEST. 


most  young  men  do  in  the  university.     His  mind 
was  matured  when  he  entered  college,  for  he  wa« 
then  twenty-one  years  of  age:  and  he  early  discov- 
ered  a  great  thirst  for  learning.      He  also  had  a 
good  measure  of  independence  in  his  inquiries.     He 
was  an  original  thinker ;    and  chose  to  understand 
any  subject  to  which  his  inquirif:s  were  directed,  so 
as  to  be  able  to  explain  and  defend  the  views  he 
entertained.     He  chose  the  profession  of  a  christian 
minister;  but  was  not  content  to  pursue   the  old 
tract  precisely  without  personal  inquiry  and  convic- 
^    tion:  and  yet  he  was  not  an  innovator;  he  did  not 
.  depart  from  the  opinions  of  antiquity  without  good 
reason.     He  read  the  bible  diligently,  and  compared 
different  portions  of  it,  for  the  right  understanding  of 
a  difficult  passage.     He  also  made  use,  as  helps,  of 
the  writings  of  the  christian  fathers,  and  of  other 
learned  theologians,  who  wrote  after  the  reformation 
by  Luther.     His  library  was  not  very  large,  but  well 
chosen.     Besides  Patrick,  Lowth,  and  Whitby,  he 
had  Le  Clerc,  Beasobre  and  L'Enfant,  Poole's  Synop- 
sis, Walton's  Polyglott,  (borrowed  probably,)   the 
works  of  Calvin,  Limborch,  Grotius,  Dupin,   and 
of  many  English  divines  of  a  later  date :  also  of  the 
Catholic,    Beilarmine,   of  Hobbes,   &c.      With  all 
-  these  he  was  well  acquainted,  and  knew  both  their 
peculiar  excellencies  and  errors.     And  thus  he  was 
well  furnished  with  things  new  and  old  in  the  theo- 
logical department.      He  embraced  the  theory  of 
,  human  freedom,  in  opposition  to  that  of  necessity, 
[  whether  of  the  philosophical  school  of  Hobbs  and 
^  Hume,  or  of  Calvin  or  Edwards.     He  published  es- 
says in  favor  of  the  diytrine  of  a  self-determining 
K»wer  in  man,  in  which  he  agreed  with  the  learned 
r.  Samuel  Clark,  and  others  of  his  school^ontend- 
ing  that  a  man  had  intrinsic  power  to  choo&s,  or  to 
exercise  his  will — that  volition  was  not  an  effect; 
but  was  strictly  the  mind  acting — that  motive  was 


se 
of 


'<A^h. 


Vf-; '  • 


•  t^^.lV""  vt 


mind 
0  waf 
iiscor- 
had  a 
8.     He 
srstand 
;ted,  so 
ew8  he 
tiristian 
the  old 
convic- 
did  not 
ut  good 
>mpared 
ndingof 
lelps,  of 
of  other 
>Tmation 
but  well 
itby,  he 

Synop- 

y,)  ti»e 


)in, 


and 


80  of  the 
Vith  all 
)th  ihcir 
he  was 
the  theo- 
heory  of 
lecessity, 
)bbs  and 
shed  e»- 
ermining 
learned 
-contend- 
&8,  or  to 
n  effeti; 
►tive  was 


SAMUEL   WEST.      ^ 


427 


■i^jt  J. 


indeed  an  occasion  for  acting — but  still  the  mind 
was  free  to  act  or  choose — and  often  did  choose 
against  reason  or  conviction  of  the  right  and  the 
most  proper.  He  also  contended,  that  the  pre-science 
of  God  did  not  cause  or  so  control  the  menial  acts, 
as  that  the  latter  were  the  necessary  effects  of  the 
former:  Foreknowledge  in  the  Deity  having  no 
more  causality^  or  influence  on  men's  actions,  than  our 
present  knowledge  has.  For  to  speak  of  the  fore- 
knowledge  of  God  is  only  in  accommodation  to  human 
weakness  or  in:ipKrrection.  It  is  none  other  than 
present  knowledge — as  he  knoM's  all  things  from 
eternity — and  therefore,  while  it  implies  certainty, 
it  is  not  the  cause  of  what  is  known.  And  if  God 
only  knows  things  because  he  has  foreordained 
them,  then  he  is  the  author  of  his  own  infinite  know- 
ledge, or  has  created  one  of  his  eternal  essential 
attributes.  Dr.  West  wrote  on  the  subject  of  human 
freedom,  in  strictures  on  Dr.  Edwards,  Dr.  Stephen 
West,  and  of  Dr.  Hopkins— and  some  of  his  essays 
were  published.  Dr.  West  was  a  man  of  various 
and  extensive  learning,  and  an  original  member  of 
the  American  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences.  He 
possessed  very  kind  and  benevolent  feelings,  and 
deeply  sympathised  with  the  bereaved  and  afflicted. 
He  took  a  decided  part,  so  far  as  was  proper  in  a 
clergyman,  and  as  did  most  of  his  clerical  brethren 
in  New  England,  in  favor  of  civil  liberty,  in  the  m»« 
morable  period  of  1775.  For  it  was  believed  there 
was  a  close  connection  between  the  civil  and  religious 
liberties  of  the  country.  The  high  church  party  in 
England,  which  was  always  seeking  to  control  the 
religious  concerns  in  the  colonies,  supported  the 
claims  of  the  crown  and  its  agents,  to  arbitrary  and 
supreme  power  in  a  political  view.  The  publications 
of  Dr.  West,  were  essays  on  human  freedom,  election 
sermons,  discourse  on  the  anniversary  of  the  landing 
of  die  puritan  fathers  at  Plymouth,  at  the  Dudleyan 
Lecture,  and  on  several  ordination  occasions.      He 


428 


8.  WEST — J.  WHEELOCK. 


died  in  1807,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven ;  and  for 
some  time  before  his  decease  was  in  very  infirm 
health,  so  as  not  to  speak  in  public.  Dr.  West  riras 
settled  in  the  christian  ministry  in  the  town  'of  Dart- 
mouth, now  Fair  Haven,  and  New  Bedford;  and 
remained  in  that  station  till  near  the  close  of  life, 
when  his  infirmities  prevented  his  labors  among  them. 

WEST,  Rev.  Dr.  STEPHEN  was  many  years 
the  pastor  of  the  Congregational  church  and  society 
in  Stockbridge,  State  of  Massachusetts.  He  received 
his  education  in  Yale  College;  and  was  always 
esteemed  as  a  good  scholar  and  able  theologian. 
He  embraced  the  Calvinistio-system  of  divinity;  and 
advocated  its  peculiar  tenets  with  ability  and  zeal. 
He  was  an  able 'disputant  and  an  acute  logician. 
But  those  who  did  not  fully  think  with  him  on  these 
points,  considered  his  writings  more  plausible  than 
solid;  while  others  were  satisfied  with  them,  as 
powerful  and  convincing.  He  did  not  however  adopt 
the  Calvinistic  doctrine  of  the  imputation  of  the  evil 
of  a  single  act  of  disobedience  of  Adam  to  all  his 
posterity,  so  as  to  render  them  obnoxious  to  eternaf 
misery  for  that  act — but  supposed  that  the  disobedi* 
ent  act  of  Adam  caused  t.  total  moral  corruption  of 
his  posterity,  so  that  every  one  coming  into  being, 
and  acting  ever  so  little  for  itself,  even  in  infancy, 
deserved  eternal  punishment  for  its  own  sins — that 
the^efiect  of  Adam's  sin  was  not  strictly  everlasting 
misery  to  each  and  every  one  of  his  descendents ;  but 
was  the  cause  of  a  total  moral  corruption,  so  that 
their  every  act  was  necessarily  sinful,  and  exposed 
them,  however  young,  to  such  a  fatality.  Dr.  West 
lived  to  an  advanced  age,  and  was  esteemed  for  his 
piety  and  moral  goodness,  as  well  for  his  learning 
and  his  intellectual  powers. 

WHEELOCK,  Hon.  JOHN  L  L.  D.  was  a  na- 
ti?e  of  Lebanon,  in  the  State  of  Connecticut ;  and 


t     Y 


ASA  WHITCOMB. 


420 


ind  for 
infinn 
3st  r/as 
if  Dart- 
1;  and 
of  life, 
g  them. 

\f  years 
society 

received 
always 

ologian. 

ty;  and 

nd  zeal. 

logician. 

on  these 

ble  than 

hem,   as 

'er  adopt 

the  evil 

all  his 

eternaf 

iisobedi- 
ption  of 

to  being, 
infancy, 

ms — that 

erlasting 

iits;  but 

so  that 

exposed 

Dr.  West 

d  for  his 

learning 


as  a  na- 
cut:  and 


a  son  of  Rev.  Eleazer  Wheelock,  long  a  teacher  of 
the  Indians,  and  the  founder  of  Dartmouth  College, 
in  New  Hampshire.  Mr.  Wheelock  was  sometime 
at  Yale  College,  but  received  his  degree  from  Dart- 
mouth College,  in  the  year  1771,  with  the  first  class 
which  was  there  graduated.  He  was  a  scholar  and 
a  patriot.  At  the  age  of  twenty,  he  was  one  of  the 
delegates  to  the  Provincial  Congress,  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, at  Exeter,  in  1774 ;  and  in  1777,  had  a  com- 
mission as  Major  under  General  Stark,  who  led  a 
body  of  men  against  the  British,  under  General 
Burgoyne,  then  advancing  on  the  United  States 
from  Canada.  On  the  death  of  his  father,  in  1779, 
Mr.  Wheelock  was  elected  president  of  Dartmouth 
College  ;  and  in  1782,  visited  Europe,  partly  for  the 
purpose  of  obtaining  donations  for  the  college,  and 
for  personal  improvement  in  modern  Hterature.  Dr. 
Wheelock  died  in  1817,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six. 
He  had  the  reputation  of  a  good  scholar ;  and  he 
discovered  his  sense  of  the  value  of  human  learn- 
ing, by  his  great  efforts  to  increase  the  means  of 
knowledge  and  science  in  the  college,  over  which  he 
presided :  and  which  was  situated  in  a  newly  settled 
part  of  the  country,  Where  a  literary  seminary  was 
greatly  needed. 

WHITCOMB,  Colonel  ASA  was  a  citizei)  of 
Lancaster,  in  the  county  of  Worcester ;  of  a  large 
estate,  and  excellent  character.  He  was  many 
years  a  deacon  of  the  Church.  He  early  engaged 
in  the  memorable  contest  for  civil  rights  and  liberty, 
against  the  usurpations  of  the  British  administra- 
tion, of  1765.  Mr.  Whitcomb  was  the  representa- 
tive from  Lancaster,  in  1760-1767 ;  and  in  the  dis- 
putes with  Gov.  Hutchinson,  always  voted  and  act- 
ed with  Adams,  Otis,  and  other  whigs  of  the  Gener- 
al Court,  at  that  time.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
County  Convention  in  Worcester,  August   1774,  to 


430 


PETEft   WHITNEY. 


consult  on  measures  for  defence  and  safety  in  that 
alarming  period ;  and  of  the  Provincial  Congresses, 
of  October  1774,  and  of  February  1775.  In  May 
1775,  be  raised  a  regiment  and  received  a  commis- 
sion as  Colonel.  With  Colonel  B  Lincoln,  he  was 
soon  after  chosen  Muster-master  of  the  Massachu- 
setts troops,  and  in  1776,  he  commanded  a  regiment, 
ordered  to  Crown  Point,  and  Ticonderoga.  In  all 
these  stations,  he  conducted  with  equal  prudence 
and  efficiency.  He  was  wholly  devoted  to  the 
cause  of  liberty ;  and  to  keep  up  Je  credit  of  paper 
money,  issued  to  support  the  ex^t  hccp  of  the  war, 
he  risked  everything,  and  lost  aln  l-  u'i  his  proper- 
ty. He  lived  to  a  good  old  age,  bui  aied  in  poverty ; 
though  his  latter  days  were  made  comfortable  by 
the  kindness  of  his  relatives.  Such,  alas,  is  often 
the  lot  of  the  disinterested  and  the  patriotic  !  John 
Whitcomb  of  Lancaster,  was  a  Coloi:el  and  a  Gen- 
eral, in  1775,  chosen  by  the  Provincial  Congress. 
He  was  appointed  a  Major-General,  June  thirteenth, 
and  Joseph  Warren,  on  the  fourteenth.  He  had 
been  elected  Brigadier  General,  in  February  pre- 
ceding. He  had  the  entire  confidence  of  the  friends 
of  liberty. 

WHITNEY,  Rev.  PETER  a  son  of  Rev.  A. 
Whitney,  of  Petersham,  had  his  public  education  in 
Harvard  College,  with  the  class  of  1762 ;  and  was 
ordained  over  the  Congregational  church  and  so- 
ciety, in  Northborough,  county  of  Worcester,  in 
1767.     He  was  the  minister  in  that  place  forty-nine 

Sears,  and  died  in  1816,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two. 
Ir.  Whitney  was  of  pleasant  and  courteous  man- 
ners, methodical  in  his  plans  and  labors,  prudent  in 
temporal  affairs,  of  studious  habits,  of  catholic  sen- 
timents, and  faithful  as  a  Christian  minister.  He 
was  always  ready  to  assist  in  plans  of  public  im- 
provement, and  frequently  the  first  to  propose  such 


EDWARD  VIOOLESWORTH. 


431 


in  that 
igresses, 
In  May 
commis- 
he  waa 
Eissachu- 
egiment, 
.    In  all 
prudence 
I  to  the 
of  paper 
the  war, 
s  proper- 
poverty  ; 
rtable  by 
I,  is  often 
c !    John 
[d  a  Gen- 
Congress, 
hirteenth, 
He  had 
nary  pre- 
he  friends 


f  Rev.  A. 
ucation  in 
and  was 
I  and  so- 
cester,   in 
forty-nine 
renty-two. 
sous  man- 
)rudent  in 
holic  sen* 
ister.    Ho 
)ubUc  im- 
pose such 


as  appeared  favorable  to  the  support  and  progress  of 
education.  He  wrote  a  good  description  of  the 
County  of  Worcester,  which  was  published;  and 
several  of  his  sermons  delivered  on  public  occasions; 
were  also  issued  from  the  press.  A  son,  and  a 
grandson,  have  been  ordained  ministers  of  th«t 
gospel. 

WIGGLESW0RT7I,    Rev.   EDWARD  D.   D. 

received  his  education  in  Harvard  College,  and  had 
his  first  degree  in  1710.  He  was  chosen  professor 
of  sacred  theology  in  the  institution,  in  the  year 
1721 ;  and  was  the  first  professor  on  the  Hollis 
foundation.  Before  that  time,  the  tutors  and  the 
president,  gave  the  students  instructions  in  religion. 
Mr.  Wigglesworth  was  well  fitted  for  his  station, 
and  was  one  of  the  most  learned  theologians  of  that 
period.  He  had  impartially  studied  ecclesiastical 
history,  and  well  understood  the  controversies  exist- 
ing among  different  sects  of  Christians.  Wlien  Mr. 
Whitfield  first  visited  Massachusetts,  in  1743,  he 
was  censorious  and  exclusive;  Mr.  Wi^lesworth 
opposed  him,  detected  his  erroneous  statements,  and 
reprimanded  him  for  his  assuming  manners,  and 
denunciatory  spirit.  On  the  second  visit  of  Mr. 
Whitfield,  he  was  more  candid  and  moderate ;  and 
Dr.  Wigglesworth,  president  Holyoke,  and  other 
ofiicers  of  the  college  received  him  with  respect  and 
kindness.  He  occupied  the  professor's  chair  forty- 
five  years ;  and  rendered  great  service  to  the  college, 
by  his  learning,  exemplary  conduct,  and  good  judg- 
ment. His  influence  in  the  government  was  often 
known  to  be  highly  salutary.  His  publications 
were  numerous  and  well  received,  both  by  the  re- 
ligious and  literary  community.  Edward  Wiggles- 
worth, D.  D.,  son  of  the  former,  succeeded  his 
father,  as  professor  of  divinity  in  Harvard  College, 
in  1765,  and  continued  twenty-six  years.    He  had 


li 


liii  i 


432 


JOSCPH  WILL&RD. 


been  sometime  a  tutor  in  the  college.  He  was  a 
learned  theologian,  and  of  a  very  catholic  spirit. 
His  public  lectures  were  not  without  interest,  as  to 
the  matter ;  but  he  had  a  poor  elocution,  and  was 
an  invalid  a  great  portion  of  the  time  he  was  pro- 
fessor. In  his  private  lectures,  he  was  very  instruct- 
ive, and  it  was  only  the  indolent  and  careless 
^ho  could  attend  them  without  profit.  His  dis- 
courses at  the  Dudleyan  lecture  on  tradition,  was 
an  able  performance ;  and  that  on  the  death  of  Dr. 
Winthrop,  in  1779,  professor  in  the  University,  was 
highly  appropriate  and  learned.  It  was  on  the  doc- 
trine of  immortality,  as  fully  revealed  and  confirm- 
ed by  the  Christian  revelation.  He  was  succeeded 
by  Rev.  Dr.  Tappan,  in  1792. 

WILLARD,  Rev.  JOSEPH  D.  D.  L  L.  D.  was 
a  son  of  Rev.  Mr.  Willard  of  Scarborough,  Maine, 
and  received  his  public  education  in  Harvard  Col- 
lege, with  the  class  of  1765.  He  had  the  reputation 
of  a  hard  student  and  good  scholar,  when  he  finish- 
ed his  regular  *  course  there.  The  year  after  he 
received  his  first  degree,  he  was  appointed  a  tutor 
in  the  college ;  and  continued  in  that  ^station  nearly 
four  years.  He  then  tool:  the  pastoral  care  of  the 
first  Church  and  Society  in  Beverly.  In  1781,  he 
was  elected  president  of  Harvard  College.  He  died 
in  1804,  while  he  was  in  that  office,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-two.  Dr.  Willard  was  esteemed  both  for  his 
piety  and  learning.  He  gave  evidence  of  the  control- 
mg  power  of  religion  in  all  the  relations  of  life. 
He  was  attentive,  and  faithful  to  all  his  duties ;  and 
was  anxious  for  the  improvement  of  such  as  de- 
pended on  him  for  instruction  and  advice.  His 
manners  were  naturally  somewhat  austere,  but  he 
was  also  courteous ;  and  all  who  best  knew  him, 
readily  awarded  him  the  praise  of  a  benevolent 
heart,  and  a  disposition  to  please.    As  head  of  the 


■!       I 


E.    WILLIAMS. — J.     WILSON. 


433 


was  a 
•  spirit. 
St,  as  to 
,nd  was 
ras  pTO- 
instruct- 

careless 
His  dis- 
tion,  was 
h  of  I>r. 
sity,  was 
1  the  doc- 
l  confirni- 
succeeded 

L.  D.  was 
gh,  Maine, 
rvard  Col- 
I  reputation 
I  he  finish- 
after  he 
ed  a  tutor 
lion  nearly 
care  of  the 
n  1T81,  he 
5.    He  died 
Ithe  age  of 
koth  for  his 
the  control- 
Ions  of  life* 
duties;  and 
[uch  as  de- 
Lvice.     His 
Lere,  but  he 
knew  him, 
benevolent 

lead  of  the 


college,  he  conducted  with  fidelity  and  impartiality, 
and  omitted  no  labor  for  the  welfare  and  pros^ierity 
of  the  institution.  When  he  had  any  leisure  hours 
from  necessary  duties  of  his  place,  he  gave  them  to 
the  studies  of  important  branches  of  science.  He 
was  a  correct  Greek  scholar,  and  in  mathematics 
few  were  his  superior.  He  will  long  be  remember- 
ed, by  those  who  knew  him  as  principal  of  the  uni- 
vetsity,  with  great  esteem  and  respect. 

WILLIAMS,  Rev.  ELISHA  a  son  of  Rev.  W. 

Williams,  of  Hatfield,  was  educated   in  Harvard 
College,  and  received  his  first  degrr^^  in  1711.     He 
belonged  to  a  family  numerous  and  mspectable  in 
New   England,   more  than   a   century    ago.      He 
studied  theology,  and  was  ordained  over  a  Church 
and  Society  in  the  town  of  Wethersfield,  in  the  col- 
ony of  Connecticut.    In  1726,  he  was  chosen  the 
rector  or  principal  of  Yale  College.     Mr.  Williams 
continued  at  the  head  of  the  college  till  1739.     He 
had  the  reputation  of  an  able  divine,  and  of  a  good 
classical  scholar.    In  his  time,  Yale  College  was 
much  inferior,  both  as  to  its  funds  and  instructors, 
to  its  present  state.     For  literary  advantages,  it  is 
now  second  to  no  college  in  the  IFnited  States.    Mr. 
Williams   was  the  third  rector  in   that  seminary. 
He  resigned  the  ofiice  on  account  of  his  feeble 
health  ;  and  afterwards  held  the  office  of  Justice  of 
Peace.     He  was  a  chaplain  in  the  expedition  to 
Cape  Breton,  in  1745.     A  few  years  later  Mr.   Wil- 
liams visited  England ;  where  he  became  acquaint- 
ed with  Dr.  Doddridge,  and  other  learned  divines. 
They  spoke  highly  of  Mr.  Williams  as  "  a  learned, 
pious,  and  candid  man."     He  returned  to  Connecti- 
cut, and  died  at  Wethersfield  in  1750,  aged  sixty 
years. 

WILSON,  Rev.   JOHN   accompanied  Governor 
37 


434 


JOHN    WILSON. 


J1  ii 


Winthrop  and  others,  who  arrived  at  CharlestowD, 
June  1630.  He  vas  soon  after  chosen  pastor  of  the 
Church  there  formed,  and  became  the  first  minister 
of  the  first  Church,  in  Boston,  when  the  majority  of 
those  who  landed  at  Charlestown  removed  to  Bos- 
ton, which  was  in  October  of  tlie  same  year.  When 
he  came  to  this  country,  he  was  about  forty.  He 
died  in  1667,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven.  He  had 
been  a  preacher  in  the  Church  of  England,  and  was 
favored  with  a  university  education.  In  the  latter 
part  of  the  reign  of  king  James,  and  the  early  times 
of  Charles  I,  he  suffered  much  ifrom  persecution,  as 
did  many  other  learned  and  pious  ministers.  They 
were  harrassed  and  censured,  and  forbidden  to 
preach  or  to  administer  the  Christian  ordinances,  by 
the  bishops,  unless  they  would  conform  to  all  the 
rites  of  the  Church,  and  be  subservient  to  the  arbi- 
trary orders  of  the  hierarchy.  In  that  period  of 
spiritual  domination,  Mr.  Wilson  was  subject  to  ill 
treatment  of  various  kinds,  because  of  his  honesty 
in  adhering  to  the  directions  of  the  word  of  God. 
He  was  a  sincere  protestant,  and  a  decided  puritan, 
and  therefore  opposed  to  many  of  the  rites  and 
forms  of  Episcopacy ;  but  he  was  of  a  very  mild 
and  humble  spirit.  He  had  great  faith  in  the 
efficacy  of  sincere  and  fervent  piety,  and  his  friends 
related  many  instances,  in  which  they  supposed  Lis 
prayers  were  specially  answered.  Some  of  these 
are  remarkable,  without  imitating  the  credulity  of'' 
Cotton  Mather.  No  doubt  his  pious  prayers  were  of 
great  benefit  to  his  own  spiritual  character,  but 
many,  perhaps,  will  doubt  their  further  efficacy. 
Mr.  ^Vilson  was  truly  a  son  of  consolation,  and 
united  in  a  remarkable  manner,  mildness  with  de- 
cision of  character.  He  was  mild  towards  the 
erroneous,  if  ignorant,  and  ready  to  be  instructed; 
but  somewhat  severe  in  rebuking  the  conceited,  the 
spiritually  proud,  and  those  who  boasted  of  their 


I 


EDWABD    WIN8L0W. 


435 


stown, 
of  the 
linister 
Diity  of 
10  Bos- 
When 
y.    He 
He  had 
iiid  was 
e  latter 
ly  times 
ition,  as 
.    They 
dden  to 
,nces,  by 
all  the 
the  arbi- 
>eriod  of 
jct  to  ill 
honesty 
of  God. 
puritan, 
rites  and 
ery  mild 
1  in  the 
is  friends 
)osed  Lis 
of  these 
duUty  of' 
rs  were  of 
icter,  but 
efficacy, 
tion,  and 
with  dc- 
ards  the 
istructed ; 
eited,  the 
I  of  their 


faith,  while  their  lives  were  immoral  and  licentious. 
By  the  latter  he  was  called  a  legal  preacher;  but 
he  faithf  ! ,  taught  the  doctrines  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment, " '^..ich  are  according  to  godliness."  There 
was  always  a  sincere  friendship  between  him  and 
Governor  Winthrop,  and  they  both  opposed  the 
fanatical  Antinomians  of  their  time.  Mr.  Wilson 
was  kind  to  the  native  Indians,  and  sometimes 
assisted  Mr.  Eliot  of  Roxbury,  in  teaching  them  the 
doctrines  and  duties  of  the  gospel.  During  a  part 
of  his  long  ministry,  he  had  for  colleagues  Rev. 
John  Cotton,  and  Rev.  John  Norton,  who  were 
learned  scholars  and  popular  preachers.  Mr.  Wil- 
son was  a  rational,  argumentative  preacher,  and  his 
success  as  a  minister  was  more  owing  to  his  plainly 
and  forcibly  stating  the  great  doctrines  and  precepts 
of  Christianity,  than  by  any  studied  efforts  to  be 
eloquent,  or  to  excite  the  passions  of  his  hearers, 
"^he  Church  formed  at  Charlestown,  in  August 
10,  of  which  Mr.  Wilson  was  the  first  minister, 
was  the  fourth  or  fifth,  in  order  of  time,  in  New 
England.  The  Church  at  Plymouth  was  the  first ; 
that  at  Salem,  the  second ;  that  at  Dorchester,  the 
third ;  and  th^  Charlestown  and  Watertown,  the 
fourth  and  fifth,  as  they  existed  about  the  same 
time.  A  majority  of  the  first  Church  formed  in 
Charlestown,  removed  to  Boston  in  all  October  ;  and 
there  Mr.  Wilson  publicly  officiated  on  the  Lord's 
day.  In  1632,  a  separate  and  distinct  Church  was 
formed  in  Charlestown,  and  had  Mr.  James  as  pas- 
tor. A  Church  in  Roxbury  in  the  meantime  was 
formed,  and  after  Charlestown,  Lynn.  In  1720, 
there  were  seven  Congregational  Churches  in  Bos- 
ton— one  Baptist,  and  one  Episcopalian — the  seven 
Churches  had  twelve  nastors  or  teachers ;  who  were 
supported  by  voluntary  contributions. 


T« 


WINSLOW,  Hon.  EDWARD  made  one  of  that 


m 


436 


EDWARD   WINSLOW. 


m> 


w  " 


hA 


(.  I! 


resolute  band  of  puritans  who  braved  the  dangers 
and  privations  of  the  first  colony  on  the  shores  of 
New  England;  "  who  settled  on  bare  creation :"  far 
from  civilized  man,  and  exposed  to  the  cruelties  of  a 
savage  race.  But  they  trusted  in  Providence^  and 
therefore  could  endure  much ;  they  had  the  faith  of 
christians,  and  therefore  hoped  for  much.  They  pre- 
ferred a  good  conscience  to  the  smiles  or  rewards  of 
the  powerful.  They  had  a  generous  regard  for  their 
children,  and  therefore  were  ''  willing  to  be  stepping 
stones  to  those  who  should  come  after  them."  They 
believed  "it  their  duty  to  obey  God  rather  than  man  ','* 
and  therefore  resisted  the  claiqis  of  fallible  men,  both 
princes  and  prelates,  to  demand  obedience  to  rites 
and  forms  not  prescribed  by  their  divine  teacher. 
Edward  Winslow  was  one  of  the  five  leaders  of  the 
company  which  settled  at  Plymouth,  in  1620.  Car- 
ver, Bradford,  Brewster,  and  Standish,  were  the 
others.  To  which  some  may  think  it  proper  to  add 
Allerton,  Alden,  Fuller,  Hopkins,  Rowland,  and 
Warren.  Winslow  united  himself  to  the  society  or 
company  at  Leyden,  some  time  before  they  embarked 
for  New  England.  But  he  was  decidedly  with  them 
in  his  religious  opinions  and  views ;  and  his  intelli- 
sence  and  talents  qualified  him  to  be  eminently  use- 
ful in  founding  the  colony,  and  in  promoting  its  pros- 
perity. He  had  prudence  and  good  judgment,  and 
could  give  advice ;  he  had  resolution  and  firmnesSi 
and  was  ever  ready  for  action  on  all  proper  occasions. 
He  passed  through  a  wilderness  full  of  savages,^o 
visit  the  sachem  Massasoit,  in  his  sickness ;  he  went 
in  an  open  boat  to  the  eastern  coasts,  where  the  fish- 
ing vessels  from  Europe  resorted,  to  obtain  provisions, 
to  prevent  a  famine  among  the  people.  He  sailed 
twice  to  England,  as  the  agent  of  the  colony,  to  ob- 
tain supplies,  and  pay  old  debts.  As  Governor,  three 
years,  he  was  judicious  and  impartial.  The  turbu- 
lent and,  vicious  stood  in  a^e  of  bis  righteous  author- 


l\H' 


m 


JOSIAH   WIN8L0W. 


437 


ingers 
res  of 
:"  far 
esof  a 
e,  and 
aith  of 
ey  pre- 
ards  of 
:>r  their 
lepping 
They 
man ;" 
in,  both 
to  lites 
teacher. 
:s  of  the 
).    Car- 
ere  the 
r  to  add 
ad,  and 
Kjiety  or 
nbarked 
ith  them 
(  intelli- 
ly  use- 
ts  pros- 
>nt,  and 
irmness, 
casions. 
rages,^o 
le  went 
the  fish- 
Qvisions, 
sailed 
r,  to  ob- 
or,  three 
turbu- 
author- 


e 


e 


ity ;  and  the  virtuous  looked  to  him  for  favor  or  re- 
dress, and  never  sought  it  in  vain.  He  was  a  man 
of  religion,  or  he  could  not  have  enjoyed  the  esteem 
and  confidence  of  the  company.  When  he  visited 
England  in  1654,  he  was  employed  by  Cromwell  as 
a  commissioner,  to  go  with  a  fleet  to  Jamaica — and 
there  fell  a  victim  to  disease,  common  in  that  warm 
climate. 

WINSLOW,  Hon.  JOSIAH  was  son  of  Edward, 
and  born  in  Plymouth  colony,  1628.  He  was  well 
educated,  but  not  in  a  college.  At  an  early  age,  25, 
he  was  chosen  an  assistant ;  in  1673,  on  the  death 
of  Mr.  PrencCj  he  was  elected  governor;  to  which  office 
he  was  annually  chosen,  till  his  death,  in  1681.  He 
had  the  reputation  of  being  the  "most  accomplished 
gentleman  in  New  England ;"  king  Charles  Irs  com- 
missioners being  the  judges.  But  no  doubt,  their 
opinion  on  this  point  was  correct.  Governor  Wins- 
low  was  commander-in-chief  of  the  troops  raised  in 
1675,  to  defend  the  colony  from  the  attacks  of  the 
Indian  tribes ;  who,  at  the  instigation  of  the  revenge- 
ful Philip,  were  collecting  from  all  parts  tu  destroy 
the  English  plantations.  Philip  pretended,  or  rather 
others  have  pretended  for  him,  that  the  English  de- 
frauded him  of  his  lands,  or  took  possession  of  them 
by  force.  But  there  was  no  foundation  for  such  a 
charge.  It  was  truly  said  by  Winslow,  "  we  do  not 
claim  an  acre  of  land,  not  fairly  purchased  of  the 
Indians  :  or  for  which  we  had  not  their  free  consent." 
President  John  Adams,  and  James  Otis,  confirmed 
this  statement  in  1770.  The  charge  was  unfounded. 
It  was  mere  pretence.  But  the  detractors  of  the  pious 
and  honest  pilgrims  have  been  too  prone  to  repeat  tlia 
accusation.  Governor  Josiah  Winslow  was  person- 
ally hind  and  friendly  to  the  Indians  in  Plymonth 
eolooy,  and  was  always  ready  to  acknowledge  and 
repay  the  kindness  of  Massasoit  But  Philip  was  of 
37* 


*      .. 


438 


I.  WINSLOW — J.  WIIfSLOW. 


another  spirit ;  and  when  he  found  his  people  de- 
creasing, or  retiring,  and  the  English  increasing,  hif 
lavage  temper  was  raised,  and  he  resolved  to  destroy 
the  Cnghsh,  or  to  perish  in  the  attempt.  Governor 
Winslow  was  greatly  beloved ;  his  piety  and  his  so- 
cial virtues  endeared  him  to  the  whole  colony.         ^ 

a 

WINSLOW,  Hon.  ISAAC  a  son  of  Governor 
Josiah  Winslow,  and  a  native  of  Marshfield,  in  the 
county  of  Plymouth,  inherited  the  estate  of  his  father, 
called  CaresweUf  lying  near  the  bounds  of  Duxbury, 
first  occupied  by  Governor  Edward  Winslow,  as 
early  as  1628.  It  is  a  large  tract,  containing  many 
acres  of  salt  marsh ;  and  a  part  of  the  upland  is  a 
rich  soil.  The  farm  now,  (1842,)  belongs  to  Hon. 
Daniel  Webster.  Isaac  Winslow  inherited  also  the 
virtues  of  his  ancestors,  the  two  Governors.  He  had 
a  good  education,  but  not  at  a  college.  He  was  of 
a  public  spirit,  and  much  devoted  to  the  interests  of 
the  colony.  But  in  his  day,  it  had  become  a  part  of 
Massachusetts,  and  therefore  needed  less  care  of  its 

ENsuliar  welfare.  He  had  a  seat  in  the  House'  of 
eprcsentatives  several  years;  and  afterwards  at 
the  Council  Board,  where  he  remained,  by  repeated 
elections,  longer  than  any  other  person  appears  to 
have  done ;  and  a  great  part  of  the  time,  he  was  the 
senior  member  of  the  Board.  He  left  a  character, 
for  which  the  next  generation  cherished  a  high  re- 
gard ;  a  character  fo**  piety,  integrity,  and  benevo- 
lence, which  was  not  surpassed  by  any  one  of  his 
day. 

WINSLOW,  Major-Genekal  JOHN  was  a  son 
of  Isaac,  above  named.  He  had  the  reputation  of  an 
intelhgent  and  active  young  man ;  and  early  engaged 
ta  the  military  service  of  the  province,  being  an  oi&* 
cer  of  militia  before  the  age  of  thirty.  After  he 
reached  the  age  of  forty  years,  there  was  war  be- 

111 


JOHN  WINSLOW. 


439 


pie  da- 
ing,  hif 
destroy 
overoof 
ihisso- 

Mi 

overoor 
in  the 
I  father, 
uxbury, 
low,  a» 
g  many 
ind  is  a 
to  Hon. 
also  the 
He  had 
was  of 
terests  of 
[a  part  of 
re  of  its 
Iou89  of 
rards  at 
repeated 
pears  to 
was  the 
laracter, 
high  re- 
benevo- 
e  of  hie 

i,«,f  «.  wiltl 

,8  a  ton 
;i<»iof  an 

engaged 
j;  an  offi* 
After  M 

war  be- 


tween England  and  France  for  a  long  period.  The 
French  then  had  possession  of  Canada  and  No?a 
SooCia ;  and  the  New  England  colonies,  being  connec- 
ted with  the  former  government,  furnished  troops  to 
act  with  the  British,  during  most  of  the  campaign. 
General  Winslow  was  engaged  in  all  these  military 
enterprises.  He  commanded  the  Massachusetts  troops 
employed  in  >.ova  Scotia,  in  1755,  and,  in  1768 
ana  '59,  was  Major-General  in  the  expedition  against 
Canada.  He  was  a  brave  and  intelligent  officer, 
but  of  a  benevolent  and  compassionate  spirit ;  and 
ready  to  extend  all  proper  lenity  to  a  conquered 
enemy.  When  he  commanded  the  New  England 
troops  at  the  northwest,  in  1759,  his  officers  and  men 
objected  to  being  mixed  with  the  regular  British 
army,  or  to  being  commanded  by  British  officers, 
except  as  to  Lord  Loudon,  the  commander-in-chief 
of  the  whole.  They  wished  to  be  separate,  as  far  as 
possible,  consistent  with  the  order  and  arrangement 
of  one  army.  Owing  to  the  good  management  of 
General  Winslow,  this  wish  of  the  provincial  troops 
was  complied  with,  without  any  detriment  to  the 
public  service.  General  Winslow  was  president  of 
the  Old  Colony  Club,  in  1769 ;  formed  for  the  purpose 
of  commemorating  the  characters  and  virtues  of  the 
first  settlers  of  1*1  y mouth ;  and  which  is  revived  in 
the  Pilgrim  Society,  more  recently  established  in  that 
pLace.  General  Winslow  retained  his  activity  and 
promptness,  and  his  peculiar  decision  of  character, 
till  his  death ;  which  took  place  in  1774,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-three.  The  portraits  of  the  two  governors, 
and  of  General  Winslow  and  his  son  Isaac,  who  was 
an  eminent  physician,  are  in  the  library  room  of  the 
Massachusetts  Historical  Society,  in  Boston.  The 
two  first  were  taken  in   England,  in   1654,  by  a 

Eapil  of  the  celebrated  Vandyke ;  not  by  Vandyke 
imself^  as  has  been  sometimes  asserted. 


440 


JOHN  WINTHHOP. 


ii 


WINTHROP,  Hon.  JOHN  the  first  Governor  of 
Massachusetts,  possessed,  in  an  eminent  degree,  the 
wisdom,  prudence,  firmness  and  public  spirit,  neces- 
sary in  one  at  the  head  of  a  colony  or  Common- 
wealth ;  especially,  of  one  newly  formed,  and  com- 
posed of  persons  of  different  characters  and  views. 
The  greater  number  of  the  company  by  which  Mas- 
sachusetts was  settled,  were  indeed  of  similar  re- 
ligious views,  in  their  non-conformity  to  the  rites 
and  forms  of  the  English  Episcopal  church ;  but 
they  dilfered  in  many  respects,' as  is  always  the  case, 
where  men  form  their  own  opinions;  and  many, 
who  were  honest,  set  up  tO'  be  teachers  and  guides ; 
and  others,  who  were  intruders,  and  came  into  the 
colony  uninvited,  were  turbulent  and  unreasonable 
men ;  so  that  great  wisdom  and  prudence  were 
essential  in  the  chief  ruler  of  the  community.  The 
Governor  was  indeed  elected,  annually,  by  the  mem- 
bers of  the  company ;  and  had  no  authority  but  such 
as  the  laws  which  they  enacted  gave  him,  yet  there 
is  always  much  left  to  the  discretion  of  the  chief  ex- 
ecutive oSicer ;  and  the  administration  of  the  laws 
greatly  depends  on  him,  as  to  whether  it  shall  be 
highly  promotive  of  the  common  weal;  or  "of  the 
greatest  good  of  the  greatest  number."  Mr.  Win- 
uirop  was  chosen  Governor  of  the  company,  in  Eng- 
land, in  1629,  the  year  before  he  came  to  Massachu- 
setts, when  it  was  resolved  to  transfer  the  charter  of 
the  company  to  the  territory  for  which  a  patent  had 
been  granted  y  in  the  room  of  Craddock,  who  was 
Uie  first  Governor  of  the  company  in  England,  and 
one  of  the  original  patentees,  but  who  declined  re- 
moving to  America.  Governor  Winthrop  was  elected 
afteif  1630,  the  year  of  his  arrival  in  MassacbusettiBi^ 
the  greater  part  of  the  time,  till  his  death,  in  1649th 
vis.  for  twelve  years,  in  nineteen.  He  had  some 
enemies,  but  none  but  trifling  charges  ,were  made 
against  him ;  and  none  of  these  even  were  proved* 


i 


JOHN  WtNTHROP. 


441 


As  a  magistrate,  he  was  most  upright  and  impartial, 
discreet  and  conciliating,  yet  firm  and  unwavering 
in  a  good  cause.  In  that  day  of  intolerance,  he  was 
far  less  seve  e  and  intolerant  than  other  magistratea 
either  in  old  or  New  Kiigland.  Religion  had  a  con- 
trolling power  over  all  his  conduct;  in  no  one  waa 
its  alUpervad.'.ig  inflnence  more  visible  or  auspicious. 
Dudley  and  Haynes,  and  K'  xiicott  and  Bellingham 
were  men  of  religion,  anH  ^.  nerally  exemplary  in 
their  conduct ;  but  they  w  3L*e  not  ^o  uniformly  cir- 
cumspect, or  correc-  >  judgment.  Jovernor  Win- 
throp  had  a  large  ^stare,  and  therefore  would  give 
his  time  to  the  public  with  little  compensatior> ;  and 
what  was  granted  him  he  received  with  reluctance. 
And  when  any  proposed  to  make  him  presents,  he 
declined  them,  as  it  might  have  an  intluence  on  his 
judgment.  He  had  many  trials  while  in  public  life, 
and  some  turbulent  spirits  to  deal  with ;  but  he 
acted  with  united  firmness  and  moderation ;  and  the 
public  peace  was  maintained.  He  was  not  infalli- 
Die;  but  it  is  believed  that  he  committed  as  few^ 
errors  as  any  one  so  long  clothed  with  authority. 
The  c  rripany  which  arrived  in  June  1630,  with 
Governov  Vv  inthrop,  and  which  brought  the  patent 
and  charter,  consisted  of  fifteen  hundred — trans- 
ported chiefly  in  fourteen  large  ships,  hired  for  the 
purpose.  Two  other  ships,  which  arrived  after- 
wards, and  one  before,  hut  in  the  same  year,  brought 
a  few  others  for  the  colony.  These  fifteen  hundred 
— some  say,  sixteen  hundred — with  one  hundred,  ia 
162S,  under  Endicot,  and  three  hundred  and  thirty 
with  Higginson,  in  1629,  made  the  colony  two 
thousand  and  upwards,  in  1630.  The  large  com- 
pany settled  at  Charlestown,  Boston,  and  vicinity. 
In  1640,  the  whole  number  was  twenty -one  thou- 
sand; many  coming  over  in  each  and  every  year. 
And  these,  including  the  company  at  Plymouth,  were 
all  puritans,  or  non-conformists,  (terms  nearly  sy« 


442 


JOHN  WINTHROP. 


i'!;^ 


W' 

mi 


nonymous.)  Their  distinctive  and  peculiar  principle 
was  the  sufficiency  of  the  sacred  scriptures  as  a 
guide  and  directory  in  religious  concerns;  and  as 
the  sole  authority  to  which  Christians  might  justly 
appeal.  In  less  than  fifty  years  from  Luther,  ther^ 
was  almost  as  much  need  of  opposition  to  the  estab- 
lished religious  system  in  England,  as  when  that 
great  reformer  protested  against  and  denounced  the 
errors  and  abuses  of  popery.  From  1550  to  1.685, 
when  the  puritans  were  numerous  in  England,  va- 
rious rites  and  forms  were  adopted  by  the  ruling 
party,  composed  of  clergy  and  statesmen,  and  made 
of  necessary  observation,  under  heavy  and  grievous 
penalties.  The  authority  of  the  State  was  set  up, 
in  opposition  to  the  scriptures,  and  the  decision  of 
the  crown,  supported  by  a  bare  majority  of  the 
bishops,  enforced,  whether  agreeable  to  the  plain 
commands  of  Christ  and  apostolic  usage,  or  the  re- 
verse. The  conscientious  could  not  endure  "  this 
anti-Christian  yoke."  Of  this  description  of  religious 
people  were  the  puritans  of  Plymouth,  and  the  non- 
conformists of  Massachusetts ;  and  soon  after  the 
latter  was  settled,  in  1630,  they  cordially  united  in 
allxeligious  concerns  and  proceedings. 

r  WINTHROP,  Hon.  JOHN  F.  R.  S.,  son  of  the 
above  named,  came  to  Massachusetts  in  1631.  He 
received  his  education  at  Cambridge,  England  ;  and 
then  passed  sometime  on  the  continent  of  Europe. 
Soon  after  he  arrived,  he  was  chosen  one  of  the 
board  of  assistants,  then  only  twenty-four  years  of 
age.  With  a  few  others,  he  began  a  settlement  at 
Ipswich — Agawam — ^but  remained  there  only  two 
or  three  years.  He  visited  England  in  1634,  where 
he  was  persuaded  to  take  the  oversight  of  a  proposed 
colony  near  the  mouth  of  the  Connecticut  river.  In 
1658,  he  was  chosen  Governor  of  the  colony  of  Con- 
necticut.   And  at  a  later  day,  in  166 1,  after  the  resto- 


F.  J.  WINTHROP — W.  W1NTHR0P — J.  WINTHBOP.  443 


irinciple 
es  as  a 
and  as 
it  justly 
jr,  thera 
le  estab- 
len  that 
iced  the 
to  1.686, 
and,  va- 
e  ruling 
id  made 
grievous 
)  set  up, 
nsion  of 
of  the 
le  plain 
r  the  re- 
re  "  this 
religious 
the  non- 
fter  the 
nited  in 


■  / 


of 


31 

id 


the 
He 
;  and 
Europe, 
of  the 
years  of 
ment  at 
ily  two 
where 
iroposed 
rer.  In 
of  Con- 
le  resto- 


ration of  Charles  II,  again  visited  England,  to  solicit 
a  charter  for  Connecticut  and  New  Haven,  united  in 
one  colony.  '  He  obtained  a  charter,  with  provisions 
more  favorable,  in  some  respects,  to  that  colony, 
than  were  contained  in  that  for  Massachusetts.  He 
had  the  character  of  one  of  the  most  learned  men  of 
that  day  ;  he  was  one  of  the  founders  or  early  mem- 
bers of  the  Royal  Society  of  London,  for  the  promo- 
tion of  science.  After  his  return  from  England,  at 
this  period,  he  was  elected  Governor  of  Connecticut, 
until  his  decease,  in  the  year  1676  ;  when  attending 
a  meeting  of  the  commissioners  of  the  four  united 
New  England  colonies,  to  consult  for  the  common 
defence,  against  the  machinations  of  the  Indians, 
who  were  conspiring  under  the  influence  of  the  sa- 
chem Philip,  to  destroy  all  the  English  settlements 
in  the  country.  He  was  then  about  the  age  of 
sixty-seven. 

WINTHROP,  FITZ-JOHN  F.  R.  S.,  was  son 
of  the  former;  and  also  chosen  Governor  of  Con- 
necticut, at  nine  annual  elections — from  1698  to 
1707 — the  year  of  his  decease,  being  then  sixty- 
eight  years  of  age.  It  was  proposed  to  him  to  join 
the  New  England  troops,  against  Canada,  in  1690, 
in  which  he  had  a  commission  as  Major-General — 
but  he  did  not  engage  in  that  expedi^on. 

WINTHROP,  WAIT  a  brother  of  Fila-John, 
was  many  years  in  public  life,  in  Connecticut.  He 
lived  in  Boston  the  last  twenty-five  years  of  his  life ; 
and  was  sometime  chief  justice  of  the  Superior 
Court  in  Massachusetts.  He  died  in  1717,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-five. 

WINTHROP,  Hon.  JAMES  of  Cambridge,  was 
a  son  of  Professor  Winthrop;  and  received  his  first 
degree  in  Harvard  College,  in  1769.     He  had  tbe 


444 


JOHN   WINTHROP.    :/ll^^XUl7i  -i  .^ 


character  of  a  good  general  scholar,  and  attended  to 
literary  pursuits  through  life.  He  ranked  with  the 
first  class  of  mathematicians  in  the  State ;  and  in 
philological  studies,  very  few  surpassed  him.  He 
understood  the  Chinese  language.  He  attended  to 
ecclesiastical  history,  and  to  ancient  common  histo- 
ry, to  elucidate  the  Scripture  prophecies,  a  subject 
which  engaged  his  particular  attention,  and  on 
which  he  published  some  essays.  His  faith  in  the 
inspiration  of  the  sacred  books  of  Christians  was 
firm ;  and  to  them  he  always  appealed  for  religious 
truth.  No  one  was  a  more  intelligent  reader  of  the 
Bible,  than  Mr.  Winthrop.  Though  a  young  man 
in  1775,  he  was  an  ardent  patriot — at  a  later  period 
he  was  Register  of  Probate,  and  a  Justice  of  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas  in  Middlesex  County.  He 
died  in  1824,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three. 

WINTHROP,  Hon.  JOHN  F.  R.  S.  L  L.  D.  a 
descendant  of  Governor  Winthrop,  first  named 
above,  of  the  fifth  generation,  in  the  line  of  Adam, 
the  third  son  of  the  Governor,  had  his  education  in 
Harvard  College,  with  the  class  of  1732.  His  an- 
cestors were  all  citizens  of  Boston,  and  all  of  the 
name  of  Adam.  They  were  men  of  excellent 
characters  ;  and  all,  more  or  less  time,  in  important 
stations  in  the  province.  Dr.  Winthrop  was  early 
distinguished  for  his  knowledge  of  mathematics 
and  astronomy ;  and  was  chosen  professor  in  that 
department,  at  the  age  of  twenty-six.  In  the  ac- 
quirements he  made  in  the  physical  sciences,  he 
excelled  all  his  contemporaries  in  America ;  and  his 
reputation,  as  an  astronomer,  was  very  high  in 
Europe.  He  corresponded  with  some  of  the  most 
scientific  men  in  England  ;  and  several  productions 
of  his  pen  were  published  in  the  volumes  of  the 
R^yal  Society  in  London.  He  had  the  honor  of  an 
election  into  that  learned  society ;  and  no  one  more 


JOHN    WISE. 


Jt 


445 


nded  to 
ith  the 
and  in 
n.  He 
ided  to 
1  histo- 
subject 
and  on 
in  the 
ns  was 
elisions 
r  ot  the 
Qg  man 
r  period 
3  of  the 
ty.    He 


L.  D.  a 

I  named 

Adam, 

Uion  in 

His  an- 

of  the 

xcellent 

iportant 

IS  early 

lematics 

in  that 

the  ac- 

ices,  he 

and  his 

high  in 

le  most 

uctions 

of  the 

)r  of  an 

le  more 


justly  merited  the  distinction.  Two  comets  appear- 
ed in  the  North  American  hemisphere  in  his  time ; 
and  he  wrote  largely  and  ingeniously  on  their  orbits, 
their  periodical  returns,  and  their  probable  sub- 
stances, origin,  &c.  And  his  opinions  and  state« 
ments  were  usually  founded  on  facts,  or  very  strong 
probabilities,  rather  than  in  conjecture  or  mere 
theory.  Dr.  Winthrop  was  a  popular  lecturer,  and 
high  in  the  esteem  with  the  students  and  the  other 
instructors  in  the  university.  He  also  held  civil 
office,  being  several  years  Judge  of  Probate  for  the 
county  of  Middlesex ;  and  the  virtue  of  patriotism 
may  likewise  be  justly  claimed  for  him.  He  had 
the  confidence  of  the  leading  whigs  of  1770-1776, 
and  often  held  a  seat  at  the  Council  Board,  though 
sometimes  negatived  by  the  Governor.  He  was  one 
of  the  prudent,  as  well  as  firm  advocates  for  politi- 
cal liberty,  at  that  memorable  period.  The  ardor  of 
some  of  the  whigs  of  thattlay,  needed  the  wisdom 
and  caution  of  such  men  as  Winthrop,  Bowdoin, 
and  Dexter.  Dr.  Winthrop  professed  his  faith  in 
the  Christian  revelation;  and  said,  that  after  all 
reason  and  philosophy  could  teach,  there  was  no 
"  sure  and  certain  hope  "  of  immortality,  but  by  the 
gospel. 

*  •  WISE,  Rev.  JOHN  was  the  minister  of  one  of  the 
societies  in  Ipswich,  where  he  was  settled  in  1683, 
on  the  recommendation  of  the  General  Court  He 
had  his  public  education  in  Harvard  College,  and 
was  graduated  in  1673.  He  continued  in  the  min- 
istry, in  Ipswich,  till  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1726. 
He  was  a  very  athletic  man,  and  "  a  famous  wrest- 
ler." He  was  some  years  a  deputy  to  the  general 
assembly,  about  the  time  of  Sir  Edmund  Andros' 
tyrannical  administration,  which  was  from  1686  to 
1689.  He  opposed  the  collection  of  taxes  arbitrarily 
^-■•"-   '  ■  •  ^      38  - V  --- 


446 


ICBABOD  WI8WALL. 


;' 


imposed  by  Androa,  without  adyice  or  consent  of  a 
General  Court ;  and  was  imprisoned  for  his  opposir 
tion.  But  many  other  gooa  men  opposed  the  op- 
pressive measures  of  Sir  Edmund.  Mr.  Wise  assist* 
ed  in  reorganizing  the  government  of  the  Common- 
wealth when  Andros  was  deposed,  in  April  1689. 
And  he  also  prosecuted  chief  justice  Dudley,  for  re- 
fusing him  tne  privilege  of  habeas  corpus,  when  he 
was  imprisoned  by  the  unjust  and  illegal  order  cNf 
Andros.  He  was  chaplain  to  the  troops  wliich  went 
against  Canada,  in  1690.  Mr.  Wise  wrofe  a  vindi- 
cation of  the  government  of  t|ie  churches  in  New 
Sngland.  When  near  the  close  of  life,  he  regretted 
diat  he  had  often  been  obliged  to  engage  in  conten- 
nons,  either  political  or  ecclesiastical.  But  he 
added,  that  it  was  for  truth  and  for  right-^-and  he 
could  say,  that  he  had  fought  a  good  fight.  When 
it  was  objected,  that  in  his  treatise  on  church  gov- 
ernment, he  had  allowed  too  much  power  ^  the 
brethren,  he  replied,  "  it  is  best  to  concede  i.  ^em 
in  theory,  for  the  clergy  will  then  really  have  more 
influence  with  them." 

iv 

WISWALL,  Rev.  ICHABOD  was  the  settled 

minister  of  Duxbury,  from  1676  to  1697.     He  was 

a  native  of  Dorchester ;  and  a  student  in  Harvard 

College  three  years ;  but  did  not  receive  a  degree  in 

form.    While  he  was  a  member  of  the  college,  the 

time  required  to  be  passed  in  studies  there,  was 

changed  from  three  years  to  four — and  his  class 

refused  to  stay  more  than  three;  as  that  was  the 

term  required  when  they  entered  the  college.     Mr. 

Wiswall  was  a  good  scholar,  and  a  learned  theolo- 

S'an.  He  was  in  college  during  the  presidency  of 
r.  Chauncy.  His  character  was  that  of  a  mild, 
conciliating  man ;  and  his  people  were  much,  at- 
tached to  him.  He  was  appointed  by  the  goveni«> 
ment  of  Plymouth  colony  in  1689,  an  agent  to  attend 


to 
pc 
ti< 
he 
m 
m 

CO 

in 
yo 
th 
pu 
m 
no 
sei 
Ps 
H< 


ICHABOD  WI8WALL. 


447 


tof  a 

ippOSir 

t\e  op- 
assist- 
nmon- 
11.689. 
forre- 
len  he 
rder  of 
\i  vreht 

vindi- 
ti  New 
igretted 
contea- 
But  he 
and  he 

When 
;h  gov- 

♦.    the 

e  more 


to  its  interests  in  England.  His  church  were  op* 
I>osed  at  first;  but  consented,  after  some  consulta- 
tion,  for  the  good  of  the  colon  y^.  When  in  England, 
he  opposed,  as  he  was  instructed,  the  union  of  Ply- 
mouth with  Massachusetts.  But  the  king  and  his 
ministers  oveiruled  his  plea,  and  ordered  the  two 
colonies,  with  Maine,  and  the  Vineyard,  to  be  united 
in  one  province.  Mr.  Wiswall  prepared  several 
young  men  for  college.  His  school  was  noted  in 
that  day;  and  he  received  a  small  sum  from  the 
public  income,  for  several  years.  He  was  succeeded 
m  the  ministry  in  Duxbury  by  Mr.  Robinson,  before 
noticed  in  this  volume.  Mr.  Wiswall  was  the  third 
settled  minister  of  Duxbury.  The  first  was  Ralph 
Partridge,  from  1637  to  1657 ;  the  second,  John 
Holmes,  from  1660  to  1676. 


settled 
le  was 
arvard 
sgree  in 
ige,  the 
re,  was 
is  class 
iras  the 
Mr. 
theolo- 
ency  of 

mild, 
uch  at- 
govern* 

attend 


j 


i--^' 


1 


I 


•Tt. 


.#<|^r^*^r^  ^.^.-.-.rii'^f 


■K\M.: 


■«m4  V 


lijifg^.  i? 


n,?,-p, 


:$y5:V.,:S3t 


■i 

fit 


; 

- 

1  1           ■                'ifc^       ^     -  ^ 

-.-"  ^JAW 

• 

1 

'.  .k.   - 

i                                                     y^— 

-    ■ 

■■ .;  Y£^, 

- 

V  *'~i---.e^^-"  ^ 

'                                                                                       ■■  ■      *                                                                                             i  ■     -              " 

•fe» 

i                                                    "                 ;  V    -■    ■. 

' 

i                                                                             "       "             ^     i"^*  ,, 

^       '     ■ 

■'     "■         "                                             ?            -   " 

1 

j 

!-»»■;  ^1 


M^Kf.    )P.T»-*''i 


1 


.-W^ 

....... -■.■.;ia«t> 

■  ■>  VS}  if 

ADDENDA. 


«NPMk#M««kMMAM 


r  The  following  articles  were  casaally  omitted  in- 
dertioa  ii|  their  aljphabetical  order :  [ 

AMES,  HoH.  FISHER  L  L.  D.  was  a  native  of 
Dedham,  son  of  a  respectable  physician  of  that 
jriace.  He  received  his  public  education  in  Harvard 
GoUege,  with  the  class  of  1774,  at  the  age  of  seven- 
teen, about  two  years  younger  than  the  greater 
nttmW  of  students  there  mlucated.  The  war 
which  soon  occurred,  was  unfavorable  to  the  suc- 
cessful cultivation  of  letters.  The  regular  studies 
were  often  and  long  interrupted  in  1775,  '76,  '77, 
and  '78.  But  young  Ames  was  fond  of  books,  and 
had  an  uncommon  thirst  for  knowledge ;  and  mad» 
good  progress  in  the  studies  usual  in  the  college, 
with  alt  these  interruptions  and  obstacles.  At  an 
early  age,,  he  gave  indications  of  genius ;  so,  thi^ 
Uioagh  he  was  rather  a  studious  man,  it  was  net 
necessary  for  him  to  be  always  over  his  books.  Mr. 
Ames  studied  law  with  Judge  Tudor,  who  was  &n^ 
elegant  scholar,  as  well  as  a  sound  lawyer ;  and, 
perhaps,  his  peculiar  taste  fot  polite  literature,  and 
OM  excellence  in  English  compo$ition  and  writing 
may  be  in  some  measure  owing  to  his  legal  instruct- 
OK  and  companion.  Mr.  Ames  was  popular  as  a 
lawyer,  and  had  an  extensive  business  soon  after  hft 
engaged  in  the  practice.  He  was  a>so  early  disti»^^ 
guished  for  his  elegant  language,  and  a  beantifiil  > 
style  of  writing.  It  WM  flowing,  but  not  diffiMtfi.^ 
38* 


il 


! 

i 


450 


PISBIB  AMIS. 


I  ■ 


rich  in  figures  and  illustrations,  without  being  in- 
flated, or  overloaded  with  ornament.    And  his  ex- 
temporaneous speaking,  and  even  his  common  con- 
versation, might  be  thus  characterized.    It  was  not 
studied,  or  artificial ;  it  appeared  perfectly  natural 
.  and  easy ;  and  his  sentiments  were  correct  and  pure, 
and  often  original,  though  not  startlinp^.    He  was  a 
>  distinguished  member  of  the  convention,  in  Massa- 
chusetts, for  adopting   the  federal  constitution,,  in 
1788.    He  ranked  among  the  five  or  six  ablest  mea 
in  that  assembly ;  and  Bowdoin,  Strong,  Chief  Jus- 
tice Gushing,   Theo.    Parsons,    G.    Cabot,    Chief 
Justice  Dana,  were  these.    In  1789,  he  was  chosen 
a  representative  to  Congress  for  Suffolk,  before  Nor- 
folk county  was  set  off.     And  he  was  chosen  a 
member  for  three  successive  terms.    He  was  the 
most  eloquent  man  in  Congress.     His    speech  in 
reflstence  to  the  Jay  treaty,  in  1794,  was  the  most 
powerful  and  effective,  probably,  ever  delivered  in 
the  legislative  hall  of  the  nation.    Soon  after  thiS| 
his  health  became  feeble,  and   he  declined  publitt 
life;  except  that  one  year  he  consented  to  hold  a 
seat  in  the  Council,  when  Governor  Strong  was  m 
the  chaii.    By  request  of  the  General  Court,  he  de^ 
livered  an  eulogy  on  the    character    of  General 
Washington,  who    died  in  December  1799.    Mr. 
Ames  wrote  frequently  in  the  newspapers  on  politi- 
cal subjects.    He  was  early  alarmed  by  the  excesses 
of  the  French  revolution,  and  the  rapid  strides  of 
jacobinism,  or  ultra  democracy  in  the  United  Slates. 
Some  accused  him  of  being  an  enemy  to  republi'^^ 
canism. .  But  he  said  there  was  a  difference  between 
republicanism  and  extreme    democracy.     To  the 
latter  he  objected,  as  he  believed  it  would  end  in 
monarchy  ;  but  of  the  former,  he   was  a  sincere = 
friend  and  advocate.    He  died  July  4,  1809,  at  the 
age  of  fifty-two.     He  was  contemporary  and  inti- 
mate with  Judge  Tudor,  Judge  Dawes,  Rev.  John 

•      •  '        *  si, 


TmOTHT   BIOILOW. 


461 


Olark,  Bsv.  John  Eliot,  Rev.  lamet  Freeman,  Hon. 
Samael  Dexter,  Hon.  H.  Q.  Otia — who,  forty-ftr* 
and  fifty  years  ago,  formed  a  literary  constellatioDi 
not  since  surpassed ;  probably  not  equalled.  Mr. 
AiiDea  received  the  honorary  degree  of  L  L.  D.  from 
the  college  at  Princeton,  in  New  Jersey;  and  in 
1806,  on  the  death  of  Rev.  Dr.  Willard,  was  elected 

Smodent  of  Harvard  University,  but  did  not  accept 
Ir.  Ames  had  the  character  of  a  man  of  piety  and 
nligion ;  and  his  life  afforded  proof  of  Uie  sincerity 
of  his  faith  in  the  Christian  revelation.  ■"  m 


BIGELOW,  Colonel  TIMOTHY  was  an  inhab- 
itant of  Worcester,  and  early  took  a  decided  part 
with  the  whigs  of  Massachusetts,  in  opposing  the 
arbitrary  measures  of  the  British  administration,  in 
1770-1776.  He  was  a  member  of  the  convention  in 
Worcester  county,  in  August  and  September,  1774,' 
to  consult  for  the  common  welfare,  and  for  the  de* 
fence  and  preservation  of  civil  liberty.  There  waa 
then  a  large  body  of  British  troops  in  Boston,  ready 
to  enforce  the  oppressire  acts  of  the  British  Parlia- 
ment, and  to  put  dov/n  all  eh>t'*t8  in  favor  of  ancient 
rights.  A  happy  i'iiflueuce  was  produced  by  the  n*'* 
porta  and  resolutions  of  that  convention,  by  enlight-»' 
enmg  and  uniting  the  common  people  in  that  part  of 
the  country.  Mr.  Bigelow  was  one  of  the  most  effi- 
cient members  of  that  convention.  The  town  also 
chose  him  a  delegate  to  attend  the  several  provincial 
Congresses  of  Massachusetts,  in  October  1774,  in 
February  and  in  May  1776.  These  conventions 
were  hi^ly  important,  at  that  very  alarming  period, 
for  spreading  correct  information,  for  uniting  all 
classes  through  the  province,  and  for  preparing  some 
plan  or  system  for  defence,  if  attacked  by  the  Britirii 
troops,  then  in  the  capital.  Not  only  were  th« 
measures  of  the  ministry  in  England  very  oppressive^^ 
intbat  higher  duties  were  laid,  to  raise  a  revenue  kt 


\ 


468 


TIMOTHY  BIOBLOW. 


I 


the  province,  wbioh  wat  to  b«  wholly  applied  to  tho 
■upport  of  the  Britiah  gotvemment  aod  ita  offioera ; 
but  a  lar^e  body  of  troopa  waa  atationed  in  the 
province,  in  a  time  of  peace ;  the  port  of  Boeton  waa 
abut  up,  and  all  navigation  excluded ;  the  citiaenii 
^aiged  with  evading  the  custom-houae  lawa,  to  ba 
tcanaported  to  England  for  trial ;  and  the  couaaelkfi^ 
which  compoaed  one  branch  of  the  legialature,  to  be 
appointed  by  the  crown,  instead  of  an  election  bf 
the  representatives  of  the  people,  as  provided  by  the 
charter.  These  were  the  principal  grievancea;  ta 
which  should  be  added,  the  claim  of  Parliament  to 
make  a// lawa  binding  on  the  subjects  in  the  province; 
thua  rendering  the  provincial  legislature  nugatory 
and  useless.  The  determinaticm  of  the  people  waa 
tp  act  on  the  defensive.  This  is  their  language,  iur 
the  beginning  of  1775.  "  In  case  the  petition  of  the 
(^ntinental  Congress  should  not  be  attended  to,  and 
the  ministry  should  resolve  to  deprive  us  of  our  rightt 
and  property,  by  a  military  force,  we  hold  ourselvet 
obliged  to  defend  them  at  the  point  of  the  sword.!f 
When  boetilities  were  begun  by  the  British  troops, 
by  -an  attack  on  the  people  at  Lexington  and  Con* 
cord,  April  1776,  Mr.  Bigelow  was  appointed  • 
major  in  one  of  the  regiments  ordered  to  be  raiaedi 
and  marched  to  Cambridge,  under  General  Waid. 
Ho  accompanied  General  Arnold,  under  a  similar 
commission,  to  Canada,  by  the  way  of  Kennebec,  in . 
the  fall  of  1775,  and  was  there  taken  prisoner,  with 
several  others.  The  object  was  to  take  dluebec,  imd 
thus  destroy  the  British  power  in  Canada.  And  it 
was  expected -that  the  Canadians  generally  would^ 
join  the  other  colonies  in  opposition  to  the  measures 
cf  the  parent  government.  He  was  exchanged  in 
the  course  of  tiie  following  winter  or  spring  ^  and 
WM  appointed  a  colonel  in  1776,  to  command  a  ceg^ 
mant  in  the  continental  army,  but  of  the  Massa<^- 
8«t|a  line/  There  were  sixteen  regimenta  raised  in 


ii 


^ii 


TDIOTHT  BieiLOW. 


488 


MassachuMtU,  in  1776  (uid  1777,  besides  a  regimeot 
of  nrtUler/,  and  two  regiments  of  State  troops,  for 
the  defence  of  the  sea  coasts.  Colonel  Bigelovtr  con- 
tinued it  the  army  to  the  close  of  the  war ;  and  sua* 
tained  the  character  of  a  brave  and  active  officer^ 
He  possessed  strong  powers  of  mind,  and  good  judg- 
ment, as  may  appear  from  the  confidence  reposed  in 
him  by  his  fellow  townsmen,  in  choosing  him  to  act 
for  them  in  the  convention  of  1774,  and  ni  the  pro- 
vincial congress  afterwards,  repeatedly,  in  1774  and 
1775.  Colonel  Bigelow  died  in  1796,  at  the  age  of 
fifty-two. 

BIGELOW,  Hon.  TIMOTHY  a  son  of  Colonel 
T.  Bigelow,  received  his  public  education  in  Har- 
vard College,  with  the  class  of  1786:  and  he  was 
among  the  first  scholars  in  the  class.  He  studied 
law,  and  began  the  practice  in  Groton,  in  the  county 
of  Middlesex.  His  career,  as  a  lawyer,  was  brilliant 
and  successful.  He  had  an  extensive  practice ;  and 
was  considered  ^  one  of  the  ablest  attomies  in  the 
State  of  Massachusetts.  His  legal  knowledge  was 
superior  to  most  of  his  age ;  and  he  was  eloquent 
and  impressive,  as  an  advocate.  Mr.  Bigelow  early 
engaged  in  political  life,  though  the  business  of  his 
profession  occupied  the  greater  portion  of  his  time. 
The  subject  of  oolitics  is  always  interesting  in  a  free 
government;  and  every  intellisent  citizen  will  take 
part  in  the  disputes  agitated,  and  the  measures 
adopted  or  proposed.  After  1790,  the  state  of  politi- 
cal parties  was  such,  that  every  one  was  desirous 
to  inquire,  and  to  give  an  opinion,  on  one  side  or  the 
other.  Mr.  Bigelow  had  a  seat  in  the  legislature 
soon  after  he  was  thirty ;  and  continued  in  the  Gen- 
eral Court  the  greater  part  of  the  time,  afterward,  till 
his  death  in  1821.  He  was  several  times  Speaker 
of  the  House ;  and  presided  with  great  intelligence 
and  promptness.     He  also  had  a  seat  in  the  Senate, 


\' 


454 


T.  BBADBVBT — I.  ■.  OOPLBT 


and  at  the  Council  Board.  He  belonged  to  the 
Washington  school  of  politicians;  and  zealously 
iupportM  the  measures  proposed  by  the  friends  of 
that  ^reat  patriot.  Mr.  Bigelow  wrote  with  ability, 
and  in  a  correct  and  pure  style.  Several  of  hit 
speeches  and  reports,  as  well  as  orations  on  publki 
occasions,  were  published ;  and  are  still  read  with 
approbation  by  men  of  taste^  and  who  have  political 
▼lews  similar  to  those  which  he  expressed.  Mr. 
Bigelow  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-four,  after  some  years 
of  very  infirm  health.  "■ 

BRADBURY,  Hon.  THEOPHILUS  of  New- 
buryport,  received  his  education  in  Harvard  Col- 
lege, where  he  was  graduated  in  1767.  He  studied 
law,  and  settled  in  Portland,  (then  FalmouUi,) 
Maine,  in  1761.  Soon  after  the  Revolution  began, 
he  returned  to  Newburyport ;  and  there  afterwards 
resided,  with  a  good  share  of  practise,  and  with  a 
high  reputation  both  fo/  integrity  and  leffal  knowl- 
edge. He  had  a  seat  in  the  legislature  of  Massachu- 
setts, for  several  years;  as  a  representative  from 
Newburyport,  and  as  a  senator  from  Essex  county. 
In  1796,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  Congress ;  and 
in  1797  was  appointed  an  associate  justice  of  the 
Supreme  Judicial  Court  of  Massachusetts;  an  ap- 
pointment given  to  none  but  able  and  learned  law- 
yers, and  upright  and  honorable  men.  In  his 
mmily.  Judge  Bradbury  was  a  pattern  of  virtue  and 
propriety  ;  and  always  exhibited  an  example  worthy 
of  imitation  by  his  fellow  citizens.  He  died  in  1803, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-six. 

COPLEY,  JOHN  S.  was  a  native  of  Boston ; 
born  in  1738.  He  early  exhibited  a  taste  and  talent 
for  portrait  painting ;  and  before  he  had  seen  and 
examined  any  works  of  the  masters  of  the  art,  he 
paitated  the  likenesses  of  some  friends  ;  so  that  be 


RIORAKD  DtTINt. 


4M 


to  the 

salonsly 

ends  of 

ability, 

1  of  hit 

publie 
id  with 

rlitical 
Mr. 
le  years 


f  New- 
id  Col- 
studied 
mouth,) 
began, 
erwards 
with  a 
knowl- 
ssachu- 
re  from 
county, 
ss;  and 
of  the 
an  ap- 
ed law- 
In    his 
tue  and 
worthy 
in  1803. 


Boston  f 
f  talent 
>en  and 
art,  he 
hat  he 


might,  perhaps,  be  said  to  be  self-taught  In  1774, 
he  went  to  Italjr,  for  the  sake  of  improvement  in  the 
art  he  had  chosen.  When  he  was  on  his  return,  in 
England,  in  1776,  he  there  met  his  family;  and 
therefore  did  not  visit  America.  The  war  of  the 
Revolution  probably  prevented.  One  of  his  first 
pictures  painted  in  England,  was  the  rescue  of  a 
young  man  from  a  shark,  in  a  river  near  Charleston, 
S.  C.  The  painting  of  Lord  Chatham,  in  the  House 
of  Peers,  when  he  made  a  celebrated  speech  in  favoi 
of  America,  was  his  chef-d aeuvrt :  and  gained  for 
him  the  highest  praise.  He  painted  several  his- 
torical pieces,  which  have  been  much  celebrated. 
The  portraits  taken  by  him,  before  he  went  to  Eu- 
rope, were  considered  excellent  likenesses.  He  im- 
proved afterwards  in  his  drapery  and  coloring. 
Among  the  portraits  painted  by  Copley,  in  Bostoui 
the  following  are  recollected — Gov.  Samuel  Adams, 
Thomas  Hancock  and  Ladvi  W.  N.  Boylston,  Judge 
Tyng,  Judge  Foster,  Mrs.  D.  Sargent,  senior. 

DEYENS,  RICHARD  a  citizei)  of  Charlestown. 
was  one  of  the  early  and  decided  friends  of  civil 
liberty,  in  1775.  He  was  an  intelligent  mechanic, 
by  trade  a  cooper ;  and,  though  not  a  very  learned 
man,  he  was  like  the  great  majority  of  the  citizena 
of  New  England,  well  informed  on  the  nature  of 
civil  government,  and  of  constitutional  rights.  He 
was  one  of  the  four  delegates  from  Charlestown  to 
the  convention  in  the  county  of  Middlesex,  September 
1774 ;  and  a  delegate  to  the  provincial  Congresses  of 
Massachusetts,  in  October  1774,  and  in  February 
1775.  Mr.  Devens  was  also  one  of  the  committee 
of  safety,  in  1775,  of  which  General  Warren  was 
chairman.  It  had  executive  powers  of  great  extent 
In  June,  1775,  ho  was  appointed  a  commissary  for 
the  troops  collected  at  Cambridge^  under  General 
Ward;  who  commanded  there  till  General  Wm^ 


4S6 


JOBN  HARVARD. 


ington  arrived,  the  2d  of  July.  He  possessed  in  a 
high  degree  the  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens ; 
and  in  all  the  important  stations  which  he  held,  he 
conducted  with  fidelity  and  energy.  He  had  the 
character  of  an  ardent  patriot ;  and  he  made  great 
sacrifices,  as  did  many  others,  for  the  cause  of  liberty 
and  the  country.  The  inhabitants  of  Charlestown 
and  Boston  sufiered  more  than  any  others  by  the  loss 
of  property  in  1776.  Gorham,  Foster,  Cheever,  Har- 
ris, Miller,  and  Frothingham,  citizens  of  Charles- 
town,  were  men  of  influence  on  the  side  of  liberty, 
at  that  critical  period.  Mr.  Devens  lived  to  the  age 
of  eighty-six,  and  died  in  1807.  He  often  repre- 
sented his  native  town  in  the  General  Court.* 

HARVARD,  Rev.  JOHN  came  over  to  Massachu- 
setts, and  settled  in  Charlestown,  in  1637.  He 
preached  there  and  performed  other  duties  as  a 
Christian  minister ;  but  it  does  not  appear  that  he 
was  ordained  or  settled  as  the  regular  and  perma^ 
nent  pastor  of  the  church.  He  survived  only  one 
year  after  his  arrival.  He  possessed  a  considerable 
estate ;  the  half  of  which  he  bequeathed  to  the 
school  at  Cambridge,  founded  in  1636,  by  the  civil 
authority  of  the  colony,  at  the  request,  oj  with  the 
special  approbation  of  the  clergy.  The  government 
granted  a  tract  of  land  for  the  support  of  the  in- 
structor, and  appropriated  the  proceeds  of  the  ferry 
between  Boston  and  Charlestown  for  the  same  lau- 
dable purpose.  But  neither  of  these  yielded  much 
income.  The  gift  of  Mr.  Harvard  was  a  great  boon 
to  the  seminary;   and  it  was  afterwards  called  a 


'^'^The  namber  of  Amerieaiw  killed,  April  19,  1776,  wai  fbrty- 
■iaa,  and  wounded  fl»rty-oiie->— and  of  Britiab,  aome  accovota  ghre 
me  hoadred  killed,  and  two  hundred  and  eighty  wounded.  On  17lh 
J^lle,  about  three  hundred  Americana  killed  and  wounded  ;  and  of 
firttiab,  fourteen  hundred  and  aix^— or  aoTenteen  hundred,  aa  aomo 
MMe. 


ELUAH  PAINB. 


college,  with  the  appellative  of  his  name.  A  large 
building  was  soon  after  erected  for  the  accommoda- 
tion of  the  students ;  and  several  other  individuals 
made  donations,  within  a  few  years.  Sir  Richard 
Saltonstall,  and  Captain  Robert  Keayne  were  of  the 
number.  The  memory  of  Mr.  Harvard  was  cher- 
ished by  the  people  of  Charlestown,  as  a  man  of 
piety  and  benevolence ;  and  it  must  always  be 
precious  with  the  friends  of  learning  and  religion  in 
New  England.  It  is  supposed  Mr.  Harvard  left  a 
widow,  to  whom  he  gave  the  rest  of  his  estate ;  but 
no  children. 


PAINE,  Hon.  ELIJAH  L  L.  D.  was  a  native  of 
Massachusetts,  and  received  his  public  education  in 
Harvard  College,  with  the  class  of  1781.  He  re- 
moved to  Vermont  in  1785,  and  entered  on  the  prac- 
tise of  the  law.  He  was  soon  after  appointed  a 
judge  of  the  Court  in  that  State.  There  were  then 
very  few  men  of  public  education  in  the  State.  Ex- 
cept the  clergymen,  only  nine  persons  who  were  citi- 
zens had  been  educated  in  a  college.  The  State  of 
Vermont  was  not  admitted  into  the  federal  union 
until  1791  ;  and  Mr.  Paine  was  soon  after  elected  to 
the  Senate  of  the  United  States.  In  1800,  he  was 
appointed  judge  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United 
States  for  Vermont.  This  station  he  filled  till 
March  1842,  when  he  voluntarily  resigned  it,  on  ac- 
count of  the  infirmities  of  age.  He  survived  only  a 
few  months ;  and  at  his  decease  he  was  more  than, 
eighty.  Mr.  Paine  had  the  character  of  a  learned 
and  upright  judge.  His  talents  were  rather  solid 
than  brilliant ;  and  he  was  better  qualified  for  a  ju- 
dicial station,  than  for  a  successful  advocate ;  but 
in  both  he  was  respectable.  His  principles  were  cor- 
rect,  and  his  conduct  exemplary,  both  as  a  common 
citizen  and  a  public  officer.  His  particular  friends 
always  regarded  him  with  much  esteem  and  affection. 
39 


1  \ 

■■  I 


458 


E.  PORTER — J.  SMTBERT. 


PORTER,  Rev.  ELIPHALET  D.  D.  was  a  swn 
of  Rev.  John  Porter,  minister  in  the  north  part  of 
Bridgewater,  Massachusetts ;  and  received  his  pub- 
lic education  in  Harvard  College,  with  the  class  of 
1777.  In  1782,  he  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  first 
congregational  church  and  society  in  Roxbury,  as 
successor  to  the  Rev.  Amos  Adams,  the  former  min- 
ister of  that  society.  Dr.  Porter  was  not  imposing 
in  his  manners,  nor  did  he  as  a  preacher  excite  great 
admiration  from  common  people,  or  make  a  sudden 
and  strong  impression  by  a  single  discourse.  His 
talents  could  not  be  said  to  be  brilliant.  But  his 
sermons  were  well  studied,  argumentative,  methodi- 
cal, and  not  without  a  good  effect  with  those  who 
closely  attended.  His  language  was  correct  and 
pure,  and  his  compositions  discovered  a  chastened 
taste.  He  had  carefully  and  impartially  studied  the 
scriptures,  and  made  the  sacred  volume  his  standard 
and  guide  in  theology.  It  was,  therefore,  to  be  ex- 
pected that  he  would  differ  somewhat  from  the  ma- 
jority, and  from  those  who  made  any  human  system 
of  faith  their  authority  or  directory.  In  the  deport- 
ment of  Dr.  Porter  there  was  great  simplicity.  He 
was  modest  and  unassuming ;  and  in  his  religious 
views,  he  was  liberal  and  tolerant.  Dr.  Porter  died 
in  1836,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight.  Several  of  his 
occasional  discourses  were  published,  and  are  hon- 
orable to  his  character  as  a  scholar,  an  independent 
inquirer,  and  a  man  of  sound,  discriminating  judg- 
ment. 


SMYBERT,  JOHN  an  eminent  portrait  painter, 
was  several  years  in  Massachusetts.  He  was  a  na- 
tive of  Edinburgh,  Scotland,  and  spent  sometime  in 
Italy,  before  he  came  to  New  England.  He  accom- 
panied Bishop  Berkely,  who  came  to  Newport,  in 
1787-8,  and  passed  a  few  years  in  this  country,  and 
then  returned.     Smybert  had  been  four  years  in 


O.    STEWABT. — K.    STILES. 


Italy  :  and  spent  a  part  of  the  time  in  copying  th0^ 
paintings  of  Titian,  Raphael,  Vandyke,  (Sec.  One 
of  his  most  finished  pieces  is  the  copy  of  Vandyke's 
Cardinal  Bentevoglio.  Smybert  socn  settled  in 
Boston,  and  there  married.  He  died  about  1751.  One 
of  hia  sons  was  a  young  man  of  great  promise,  and 
died  while  a  member  of  Harvard  College.  He  also 
had  a  talent  for  painting.  Many  likenesses  were 
taken  by  Smybert  of  distinguished  or  opulent  per- 
sons in  Boston ;  some  of  which  may  still  be  found 
in  the  city.  It  has  been  supposed  that  Copley  de- 
rived benefit  from  an  inspection  of  his  portraits; 
but  he  was  not  under  his  instruction ;  though  some- 
time his  contemporary.  He  was  the  architect  of 
Faneuil  Hall,  when  first  built. 

STEWART,  GILBERT  was  born  at  Newport, 
in  Rhode  Island  ;  and  early  discovered  extraordinary 
talents  fc  nainting.  In  1784,  when  he  was  about 
twenty-six  years  of  age,  he  went  to  England ;  and 
was  there  under  the  instructions  of  the  celebrated 
Benjamin  West,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  who  had 
sett'od  in  London  some  years  before.  Mr.  Stewart 
made  great  improvements  in  his  art,  in  a  short  time ; 
and  as  a  portrait  painter  soon  excelled  his  instructor. 
His  fame  was  great  in  England  ;  but  he  had  strong 
inducements  to  return  to  his  native  country,  which 
he  did,  in  1790.  He  passed  some  time  in  New 
York,  Philad*^.phia,  Newport,  and  in  Boston,  where 
he  spent  the  last  fifteen  years  of  his  life.  His  busi- 
ness iu  the  ingenuous  art  which  he  professed,  and  in 
which  he  was  surpassed  by  none,  was  very  ^reat  in 
Boston,  for  several  years ;  and,  but  for  bis  infirmi- 
ties, in  the  latter  period  of  hti  life,  must  have  been 
highly  lucrative.  Mr.  Stewart  died  in  1828,  at  the 
age  of  seventy. 

STILES,  Rev.  EZRA  D.  D.  L  L.   D.  received 


u  1 

I 


460 


EZRA   STILES. 


his  public  education  in  Yale  College,  in  1746.  He 
was  sometime  a  tutor  in  the  college,  when  he  settled 
as  the  pastor  of  a  Church  in  Newport,  Rhode'Island. 
On  the  decease  of  Rev.  Dr.  Dagget,  he  was  elected 
president  of  Yale  College,  and  continued  in  that 
station  till  his  death  in  1795,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
seven.  He  was  also  professor  of  ecclesiastical  his- 
tory. He  was  always  a  diligent  student ;  and  had 
the  charactbA  of  extensive  learning.  While  pastor 
of  a  Church,  he  devoted  himself  to  its  duties,  and 
was  an  able  and  useful  preacher.  When  a  young 
man  he  had  sceptical  doubts ;  but  he  honestly  in- 
quired, and  became  a  rational  and  firm  believer  in 
the  Ohrir'.iai .  religion.  His  faith  therefore,  was  a 
personal  thing;  not  derived  merely  from  education 
or  authority.  He  preferred  the  Congregational 
forms  and  discipline  to  all  others.  In  oriental  litera- 
ture none  surpassed  him,  and  he  was  a  good  general 
scholar.  He  presided  over  the  college  with  dignity 
and  fidelity ;  and  his  administration  was  a  time  of 
prosperity  in  that  seminary. 


CORRECTIONS. 


PA  OB 


86  For  Samuel,  read  Lemuel  Bryant. 
122  Dr.  Cutler  died  in  1823,  aged  seventy-nine. 
194  For  Athenian,  read  Athanasian. 
348  Dr.  Reed  died  in  1831,  aged  seventy-nine. 
856  Nathaniel  and  £zekiel  Rogers,  relatives  but  not  brotberi. 
892  Rev.  Tbo.  Thacber  died  in  1912,  aged  fifty-six. 
403  Rev.  C.  Tof»er  died  in  1818,  aged  eighty-six. 
422  OAer  surgeoiw— I.  Foster,  W.  Hastings,  T.  Child,  J.  TbacMf , 

D.  Jonec,  i    6.  Whitwell,  J.  Furfte,  D.  Shute,  8.    Finley,  J. 

Crane. 


m  ^' 


XI     tif: 


'iS&L 


He 

ettled 
sland. 
iected 
that 
sixty- 
1  his- 
Ihad 
)astor 
I,  and 
oung 
y  in- 
er  in 
'^as  a 
lation 
tional 
itera- 
Tieral 
gnity 
le  of 

■»% 


Xi  :a  t 


at.htt, 


INDEX 


Paob 

ABBOT,  Rev.  ABIEL  evangelical  and  liberal           3 

"        Rev.  JACOB  alike  independent  and  prudent 6 

ACADEMY.  Duminer  at  Bvfield,  in  I^ewbury        294 

ADAMS,  JOHN  canon  and  feudal  law,  etiay  on       15 

"             "        one  of  tlie  early  and  able  advocate*  for  civil  liberty  14 

"            "        principal  framer  of  Maasachuietts  Const  ituiion  16 

"            "        lived  to  a  great  age       16 

"         Rev.  JOHN  a  poet 1/ 

"         SAMUEL  one  of  the  most  firm  and  decided  patriots       .  21 

ANDOVER  INSTITUTION,  ill  founders,  and  donors       ....  9 

AN  DROS,  Gov.  arbitrary  and  oppressive 25  190  131149 

ANTINOMIANS 113  114 

ALDEN,  SAMUEL  grandson  of  John  Alden,  died  1780    ....  27 

"        JOHN  a  young  man,  when  he  came,  in  1G20       ....  28 

ALLEN,  S.  C.  eulogy  on  President  Wheelock 32 

ALLERTON,  ISAAC  an  enterprising  character S3 

ALLIN,  Rev.  JOHN  a  writer  on  the  subject  of  baptism    ....  34 

APPLETON,  Rev.  Dr.  catholic  and  evangelical 39 

APOCALYPSE,  of  difficult  interpretation 263 

ASYLUM  for  Blind 326 

ASTROLOGY,  unfounded,  and  ridiculous 93 

ASTRONOMERS 425 

ASTRONOMY,  studied  by  few,  in  1760       299 

"              Winthrop  learned  in  the  science        299 

ATHENiEUM,  in  Boston        325 

BAPTIST  CHURCH  in  Middleboro,  one  cause  of  it 46 

BAPTISTS,  clergy  more  learned  than  formerly,        .......      49 

"  formerly  more  liberal  and  catholic 95  378 

"  two  first  Presidents  of  H.  Coll.  were  opposed  to  infant 

baptism       100 

BELCHER,  Gov.  a  learned  and  pious  man       62 

BISHOPS  in  New  England,  Dr.  E.  Bass  the  first        60 

"  Dr.  Samuel  Parker,  the  second 313 

BOSTON  CHURCH  the  fourth        435 

BRIDGES,  York,  Charlestown,  &c 116  368 

BRITISH  Government,  early  fears  of  its  oppression       ..    307  420  452 

BIBLE,  the  only  rule  and  guide       416 

BUNKER  HILL  Battle 141  340  343 

"  killed  and  wounded 341  456 

CANADA,  expedition  against,  in  1G90 390  414 

in  1773.  and  in  1776  452 

CANON  and  Feudal  Lav/,  Adamj'  essay  on 15 

C'HARI»^.S  RIVER,  bridge  ovor,  built  in  1786 .116 

<HAK(     -<  Il's  COMMiaslONERS,  inI664 142 

CHAUi  t/.,  first  annulled  by  James  II 291 


463  "  im»Bx. 

CHURCH  in  Brattle  Skiuare,  on  a  new  model  in  1699 109 

"           members  only  to  have  baptism  for  their  children    .    .    .  136 

<'           UnitarJBn  in  Worcester       ^73 

"           Plymouth,  the  first  in  New  England SfiS 

"          S»iem,  the  second  in  New  England 353 

CLERGY,  learned  and  respected    .    .    .    , 6 

"           in  Essex  county,  in  1760 54 

"          justified  and  approved  of  the  Revolutionary  war    ...  10 

"           puritan,  petition  for  toleration       81 

"           become  more  liberal 52 

«           ^a;riots  in  1775       11» 

"           several  in  Connecticut  become  Episcopalians    ....  122 

"           in  Hostuii,  in  liiOO,  more  union  among 160 

"           ordained  t.y  Lay  brethren,        219 

COLONELS  in  Continental  army,  1776,  1777,  &c 50 

COLLEGL:,  R.  Island 239 

«           DarlmouUi       429 

CONGRESS,  Continental.first  in  September,  in  1774 22 

CONNECTICUT,  members  of  Congress  from       156 

CONSTITUTION  of  Mass.  adopted  in  1780 16 

COUNSELLORS  in  1774       73 

CONVENTION  in  Essex,  in  1774 143 

CREEDS  and  forms  improper,  the  bible  the  only  rule 416 

DUNSTABLE,  early  settlement  of 403 

DORCHESTER,  church  the  third        433 

EAST  INDIES,  early  Tovages  to .  253 

<<  and  to  N.  W.  coast 253  324 

FACTORY  for  cotton  cloth,  in  Mass 277 

FAMILY  GnvcrBment,  evilu  of  neglecting  it 242 

FKM  ALES,  eminent,  in  the  first  settlement  of  New  England       .    .  242 

FISHERY,  Cod  in  Massachusetts,  1771,  &c 229 

FRANKLIN,  liENJAMI^:  assisted  by  Mr.  M.Adams        ....  2G 

FREEDOM,  of  tlie  will  advocated  by  West  and  Hemmenway    .    .  227 

"            opposed  by  Edwards,  ice 163 

GREEK  Language,  Rev.  Dr.  Bentley  excelled  in  it    .....    .  66 

HANCOCK,  JOHN  made  very  great  sacrifices  in  the  cause  of  liberty  217 
HARVARD  COLLEGE,  145  ur  150  of  the  Alumni  engaged  in  Rev- 
olutionary contest 226 

HISTORICAL  SOCIETY  of  Massacbasetts  founded  by  Rav.  Dr. 

Belknap        63  171 

HOLMES'  ANNALS •....•....  233 

HUBBARD'S  HISTORY       24« 

HUMPHREYS,  D.  a  poet       241 

HUTCHINSON'S  HISTORY  valuable,  but  not  satisraetory     .    .  246 

INDIANS,  few  in  New  England        47 

<'           decreased  rapidly  early 47 

•'     "  early  taught  Christi«.aity  by  Eliot,  Mayhew.  and 

Bourne 70  169  368 

INSURRECTION  by  Shays 2S2  371 

JOHNSON'S,  EDWARD  Barrative  of  MrljrtiniMsfMBM   .    .    .  S0O 


) 


RIB 

LA^ 

LE( 
LE? 
LEI 

LIB 

LOl 

MA] 
MAS 

MM 

MEC 
MEl 
MEl 
MIN 
MIL 
MIL 
MOI 

NAV 

NEV 

OFF 

OGL 

PEA 
PAP 
PER 
PAT 


PHI 
FLY 

POC 
PRI 
PRl 
PRC 

PUE 


QU 


»?^m 


268 
911 


imfttz. 

KIRKLAND,  Rer.  SAMUEL  miMioitry  to  th«  tUi  latioM  of 

lodiaiM tfi6 

LAWYERS,  mof t  of  them  ftdrooatet  for  eivil  liberty 17 

"  few  in  General  Court  formerly MT 

LEGAL  PREACHKRS 90  485 

LEXINGTOiN  and  Concord,  killed  and  wounded 406 

LEYDEN  CHURCH  and  Company,  eipenie  and  difficulty  of 

firocurine  a  patent       97  IG2  168 
TT  and  necessity,  moral 426  427 

"  civil,  I'riends  of,  in  Mass.,  in  1660 tSO 

"  in  1775,  to  be  raaiulaincd  by  an  army        XSS 

LOUISDURG,  capture  of       flSS 

MARIETTA>  on  tiic  Ohio,  settled        VHS 

MASSACRE  in  Hoaton,  March  .3,  1770 126 

MASSACHUSETTS'  CHARTER  defended  by  J,  Dummer      .    .  lAI 

MECHANICS  of  Boston,  friends  of  civil  liberty  in  1775     ....  349 

MEDICAL  SOCIKTY        401 

MERCHANTS  of  Piosion,  iionoral)le  and  liberal 37  325 

MINUTE  MEN,  companies  of,  in  1774 27 

MILITIA  REGIMKNTS  in  1775 225 

MILITARY  CO.MFANY,  Ancient  and  Honorable '253, 

MOBS  and  Riots,  disapproved 21  ! 

NAVY  of  U.  S.,  G.  Cabot  first  Secretary       94 

"  in  1773       235  282  283 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE,  some  of  tho  Governors 58  422  423 

OFFICERS  in  Revolution,  some  in  former  Erench  war     .    343  393  417 

'<  "  returned  home  poor       332  406 

OGLETHORPE,  General  his  life  by  Dr.  Harris    .......    219 

PEACE  SOCIETY 26S 

PAPER  MONEY 390  414 

PERSECUTIONS  by  puritans  in  New  Endand        131 

PATRIOTS  of  1775,  Joseph  Warren  one  of  the  most  devoted  and 

anient 420 

"                 "       many  died  poor       430 

PHILIP,  Sachem  officers  in  the  war  with  him       104 

PLYMOUTH  Colony  settled        , i   .    .  76 

",  church,  the  first  in  New  England       352  485 

POOR  of  Boston,  religious  instiuction  of        400 

PRINTING  PRESS,  first  used  in  ltJ39 207 

PRINTERS,  etrly,  of  name  of  Green        208 

PROFESSIONAL  youn^  men  have  time  for  aiding  in  plans  of 

education  and  clianiv 198 

PURITAN  Clergy's  pcliiion  for  toleration,  in  1583 81 

"           Ministers,  20(X)  deprived,  in  1G62 /     .  91 

"          persecutions,  in  New  England,  by  them 151 

"          their  opinions 416 

QUAKERS,  or  Friends,  most  of  (hem  opposed  to  war        ....    373 
"  some  allow  of  defensive  war 373 


vo 


4M  iirsBZ. 

REVOLUTION,  some  of  the  eaiUM  of 4ft2 

REVOLUTIONARY  WAR.defentivfl }  in  rapport  of  civil  riglita  ud 

liberties  long  eq{oyed 8  193 

"  "   jtfstifieduHlrapponed  bv  the  clergy  10 

*'  "    number  of  regimenta  in  1775    ....    134 

"  "    tupportedby  young  men  of  education,  44  133 

"  "    some  of  the  battles  of 267 

"  "    leaders  in,  prudent  and  learned,  as  well  as 

zealous 143  193 

"  *'    eminent  pntriols  of,  forgotten     .    .    188  430 

RELIGIOUS  toleration,  reuaxks  of  Gov.  Haynes  to  Roger  Williams    224 

RIGHTS  of  the  Colonies 304 

RIOTS  and  mobs,  few  in  Boston,  in  1774  and  1775 292 

ROBINSON'S  church,  in  England,  Holland,  &c 75 

"  character 76 

REVIEW,  North  American 401 

ROYAI<  SOCIETY  of  London,  members  of 72  79 

ROGERS,  Ezekiel  and  Nathaniel,  relatives  but  not  brothers         .    .    355 
RUMFORD,  Count,  a  friend  and  fellow  student  of  Laomi  Baldwin     .    47 

SALEM  Church  the  second  in  New  England 353 

8ALTONSTALL,  Governor  of  Connecticut,  chosen  while  an  or- 
dained minister 12 

SCITUATE  early  settled 408 

SLAVERY  in  North  West  territory  guarded  against  by  Mr.  Dane    .  130 

"         early  condemned 173 

SURGEONS  in  the  army  of  the  Revolution 423 

TEA  DESTROYED  in  Boston  harbor  . 291  292 

THEOLOGY,  dogmatic  or  systematic,  as  well  as  scholastic  and 

metaphysical,  often  injurious,  and  seldom  necessary  164  177 

"  disputes  in 399 

TOLERATION 117  224 

TRUMBULL  and  Hutchinson,  governors,  daismatee,  but  of  oppo- 
site politics 397 

IfNITARUN  Church,  an  early  one 194 

WHITFIELD,  Rev.  George,  opposed  by  most  of  the  elergy  in  Mas- 
sachusetts, at  his  first  visit 167 

"  on  his  first  visit,  very  censorious 167  431 

WITCHCRAFT  in  Massachusetu       360 


.    .4fti 

tfud 

.    8  193 

y     .     10 

.    .    13* 

>n,  44  133 

.    .    267 

irell  u 

m  193 

188  «W 

iami    224 

.    .    3M 

.    .    292 

.    .      75 

.    .    76 

.    .    401 

.    72  79 

.    .    355 

in     .    47 

.    .    353 

or- 

.    .    12 

.    .    408 

le    .    130 

.    .    173 

.    .    4^ 

291  292 

;  and 

y  164  177 

.    .    399 

117  224 

oppo. 

.    .    397 

.    .    194 

Mai- 

.    .    167 

167  431 

.    .    360 

